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Perception or Reality?
Inside the Mountain
September 8, 2007
Arise, cry aloud in the night At the beginning of the night watches;
Pour out your heart like water Before the presence of the Lord;
Lift up your hands to Him For the life of your little ones
(Lamentations 2:19).
Congress returned this week from its August recess and passed the College Cost Reduction Act without discrimination against private education.
The Senate took a handful of votes on the life issue in its very first appropriations bill. The two questions were whether to fund abortion, and whether to fund coercive abortion. Voting on the latter first, the Senate passed the Brownback Amendment just barely 48-45.
The good news: the amendment passed; the bad news: 32 states have at least one senator who voted to fund forced abortion!
What have we become as a nation?
The other Brownback Amendment to prohibit funding of organizations that perform or promote abortion failed 41-53.
- Pray for those 45 senators who voted to fund coercive abortion!
- Pray that the President vetoes this bill.
You were slaves of sin (Romans 6:17).
Next week is unexpectedly light with little to no substantive or controversial legislation as members of Congress will be traveling to the funeral for Rep. Paul E. Gillmor, and observing Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish new year. (For details on legislation expected the following week, please see the "Future" sections below.)
This means the Iraq report by General Petraeus will dominate the headlines even more next week.
- Pray for General David Petraeus and his testimony before Congress early this coming week. Pray for the heart's of all who hear what he has to say about our work in Iraq.
You went forth for the salvation of Your people, For the salvation of Your anointed. You struck the head of the house of the evil To lay him open from thigh to neck. Selah. You pierced with his own spears The head of his throngs. They stormed in to scatter us; Their exultation was like those Who devour the oppressed in secret. You trampled on the sea with Your horses, On the surge of many waters (Habakkuk 3:13-15).
The Senate is taking up the Transportation Appropriations bill, which it expects to finish this coming week, and then continue work on the Defense Authorization bill. (Expect more Iraq votes there.)
The House, when it returns the week of the 17th, is expected to take up an election, voting reform bill, though with the divisions this has exposed within the majority's own caucus, this may not happen.
Two other bills making their way through committees in the House are the D.C. Budget Autonomy Act (with pro-life implications), and the Employement Non-Discrimination Act (with religious freedom, hate crimes-style "actual or perceived" implications).
- Pray that Congress would not sponsor the shedding of innocent blood, and that it would continue to protect our right to proclaim the Good News of the shed blood of Jesus.
The LORD hates, ... hands that shed innocent blood (Proverbs 6:16-17).
For who makes you differ from another? And what do you have that you did not receive? Now if you did indeed receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it? (1 Corinthians 4:7).
Zooming out: 110th Congress, 2007 Progress Report, Fall Outlook
- Pray for wisdom for our leaders in Congress as they deal with many issues this Fall.
He who rules over men righteously, Who rules in the fear of God, Is as the light of the morning when the sun rises, A morning without clouds, When the tender grass springs out of the earth, Through sunshine after rain (2 Samuel 23:3-4).
Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people (Proverbs 14:34).
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Past
Votes:
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Past
Votes:
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Future
House Next Week - Midweek Recess
H.R. 811: Voter Confidence and Increased Accessibility Act - requiring a paper record for every vote cast nationwide, beginning in 2008. (CQ: HR 811 has been delayed)
In Committee:
- H.R. 733: D.C. Budget Autonomy Act - funding abortion in D.C.
- H.R. 2015: Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) - as dangerous as hate crimes
Recently Passed Committee:
- H.R. 1054: D.C. Legislative Autonomy Act of 2007
- H.R. 1955: Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act of 2007
- H.R. 1302: Global Poverty Act of 2007
Ongoing Caution:
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Future
Ongoing Caution:
Judicial Nominations
The difference judges make: Partial Birth Abortion Ban Upheld!
- Pray for confirmation of the President's judicial nominees.
And I will make justice the measuring line, And righteousness the level; Then hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, And the waters shall overflow the secret place (Isaiah 28:17).
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Upcoming Events - 2007 Calendars: House (In), Senate (In)
Majority Leader Speeches: House, Senate (an indicator of the upcoming Legislative Program)
Legislative Update Archive
All Legislative Updates are produced by Timothy T.C. McGhee
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