This Week in Congress

This week, the House considered a tax-cut package that’s set to make its way through the Ways and Means Committee, along with considering postponed bills from last week regarding gas-stoves legislation, a  bill overhauling judicial procedure in certain administrative-law cases, and legislation that would establish a congressional approval process for some federal rulemaking.  Finally, the House voted on a resolution that would overturn a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives rule classifying pistols with stabilizing braces as short-barrelled rifles, a change that requires owners to register their brace with the ATF.

The Senate focused on nomination votes.  The fight over one nominee heated up this week with President Biden’s pick for Labor secretary, Julie Su. Her nomination has stalled over the last few months, with some centrist Democrats slow to announce their support or opposition. Su’s been running the department on an acting basis since March, when former Secretary Marty Walsh left, but there are limits on what those temporary appointees can do. On another controversial topic, the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday examined legislation to provide a code of ethics for Supreme Court justices. Questions have continued to surround instances of justices accepting perks and not fully reporting them. Chief Justice John Roberts said weeks ago that he was “committed to making certain that we as a court adhere to the highest standards of conduct,” but Democrats in the Senate have remained wary as Roberts refused to testify at a hearing months ago.