Congress returns from its Thanksgiving recess on Tuesday, December 4, with a lot on it's Christmas shopping list. (Full details and links are below.)

In terms of foreign policy, Iraq and intelligence bills top the priority list.

• Pray for cries from our leaders to God for his divine protection.

So when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, they said, "It is the king of Israel," and they turned aside to fight against him. But Jehoshaphat cried out, and the LORD helped him, and God diverted them from him (2 Chronicles 18:31).

Now the heart of the king of Aram was enraged over this thing; and he called his servants and said to them, "Will you tell me which of us is for the king of Israel?" One of his servants said, "No, my lord, O king; but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedroom" (2 Kings 6:11-12).

Domestically, taxes (AMT) and spending (FY 2008 appropriations) will be the most noticed issues Congress addresses this month.

• Pray for wisdom for our leaders to see how their actions affect our people and our currency worldwide.

Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for conscience' sake. For because of this you also pay taxes, for rulers are servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing. Render to all what is due them: tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor. Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. (Romans 13:5-8).

In terms of issues affecting the Heartland, Congress also intends to take up bills related to energy, farming, and global warming. The President is not pushing any of these bills and has threatened to veto at least one of them.

• Pray Congress would enact policies that would honor God in the land.

I will lay waste your cities as well and will make your sanctuaries desolate, and I will not smell your soothing aromas. I will make the land desolate so that your enemies who settle in it will be appalled over it. You, however, I will scatter among the nations and will draw out a sword after you, as your land becomes desolate and your cities become waste. Then the land will enjoy its sabbaths all the days of the desolation, while you are in your enemies' land; then the land will rest and enjoy its sabbaths. All the days of its desolation it will observe the rest which it did not observe on your sabbaths, while you were living on it (Leviticus 26:31-35).

This shall be his land for a possession in Israel; so My princes shall no longer oppress My people, but they shall give the rest of the land to the house of Israel according to their tribes." Thus says the Lord GOD, "Enough, you princes of Israel; put away violence and destruction, and practice justice and righteousness. Stop your expropriations from My people," declares the Lord GOD (Ezekiel 45:8-9).

Yesterday's political compromises are today's political emergencies, and nowhere is this clearer than where politics and science intermingle: expiring health care funding. SCHIP and Medicare physician reimbursements are expiring soon, and Congress must act at least in a temporary fashion to prevent the unthinkable: the end of a federal government program! The President has also requested renewed and increased funding of his AIDS initiative. Next year, look for a pro-life amendment from Sen. David Vitter regarding abortion funding in the Indian Health Care bill.

• Pray our leaders remember who is our true healer.
• Pray for national healing.

Behold, I will bring to it health and healing, and I will heal them; and I will reveal to them an abundance of peace and truth (Jeremiah 33:6).

Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Aramaic called Bethesda, which has five roofed colonnades. In these lay a multitude of invalids, blind, lame, and paralyzed. One man was there who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, Do you want to be healed? The sick man answered him, Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am going another steps down before me. Jesus said to him, Get up, take up your bed, and walk. And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked (John 5:2-9).

Stem Cell News: Two days before Thanksgiving, news broke on the front pages of mainstream newspapers, that researchers in Wisconsin and Japan had turned ordinary human skin cells into what are effectively embryonic stem cells without using embryos or women's eggs. This was an exciting and significant achievement, and certainly encouraging in terms of the response from the media. What is not as evident is how embryonic-like stem cells are going to be any more useful than their genuine counterparts. The scoreboard is 73-0, adult vs. embryonic, in terms of treatments from each method. Slightly more clear is how the most ardent supporters of embryonic stem cell research both in Congress and in the research community will handle this news. They have been handed a large set-back, but they have not given up yet. Ultimately, this is a spiritual issue. We have been handed an opportunity to turn the tide. Only our prayers will truly maintain this recent gain.

• Praise the Lord for breaking the media lock on the idea that embryonic stem cells are the source of hope.
• Praise the Lord before this news broke, Congressional leaders were already weakening their grip on embryonic stem cell research.
• Pray for the members of Congress that continue to push human cloning of any kind, and life-taking embryonic stem cell research.
• Pray that Congress would act now to ban human cloning.

I proclaim the name of the LORD; Ascribe greatness to our God! (Deuteronomy 32:3).

I hate the assembly of evildoers, And I will not sit with the wicked. I shall wash my hands in innocence, And I will go about Your altar, O LORD, That I may proclaim with the voice of thanksgiving And declare all Your wonders (Psalm 26:5-7).

Now for several days he was with the disciples who were at Damascus, and immediately he began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, saying, "He is the Son of God" (Acts 9:19-20).

Executive Priorities

White House To Do List for Congress

• Iraq: Pentagon Warns of Civilian Layoffs - Thus Bush Urges Emergency War Funds
• Intelligence: HR 2082 - Intelligence Authorization
• AMT: Alternative Minimum Tax Fix
• Appropriations: FY 2008 Bills - Embryonic Stem Cell Debate Ending?
• AIDS: Bush Urges Congress to Approve Additional AIDS Funds

Legislative Agenda

Congress Next Week, December Outlook, Year-End

• Energy Bill

House

• HR 2082 - Intelligence Authorization

Senate

• S 2248 - Foreign Intelligence
• HR 2419 - Senate Leaders Near Deal to Limit Farm Bill Amendments
• Committee: S. 2191: Global Warming Vote, December 5

• January 2008: As the Senate looks to take up the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (S. 1200) early next year, Senator David Vitter plans on introducing a pro-life amendment very similar to the Hyde Amendment that would prohibit taxpayer money via the Indian Health Service from being used for abortion.

On Deadline

• Alternative Minimum Tax Fix
• Short-Term Children's Health Extension
• Medicare Physician Reimbursement

Upcoming Events - 2007 Calendars: House (In), Senate (In)

Majority Leader Speeches: House, Senate (an indicator of the upcoming Legislative Program)

Political Calendars: NBC News, ABC News, CQPolitics.com 2007

• December 4 - Congress Reconvenes, First Session Final Working Period
• December 5 - Hanukkah
  
  
• January 3 - 110th Congress, Second Session anticipated beginning

  The mind of man plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps (Proverbs 16:9).

Legislative Update Archive

All Legislative Updates are produced by Timothy T.C. McGhee