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The Leader’s Floor Lookout: Week of December 9, 2024

Washington, December 8, 2024
Here’s what to watch for on the House Floor this week:
 
Improving Servicemember Quality of Life and Strengthening Our National Security

As the United States’ national security remains at risk from threats including adversaries like China and President Biden’s wide-open border, the men and women who serve in the U.S. military defend our freedom and democracy everyday. Unfortunately, the House Armed Services Committee Quality of Life Panel found that servicemember quality of life has gotten increasingly worse, causing low morale amongst servicemembers, stressing military families, undermining recruitment and retention, and threatening our military readiness. 

Due to insufficient pay and housing allowances, servicemembers and their families have been forced to rely on food stamps and pantries to provide for their families and pay housing costs out of their own pockets. Unaccompanied housing for servicemembers is in terrible condition, exposing occupants to sewage overflows, bedbugs, mold, rats, gas leaks, and brown tap water. Servicemembers and their families are stuck with long wait times for both medical care and childcare. And, 22 percent of military spouses are unemployed thanks to constant movement and difficulty transferring licenses, causing many military families to leave active-duty service.

This year, the National Defense Authorization Act specifically focuses on servicemember quality of life improvement, in addition to strengthening our national security. The FY25 NDAA includes funding for housing maintenance, oversight, and upgrades; expands allowances, gives junior enlisted servicemembers a 14.5 percent raise and supports a 4.5 percent raise for all other servicemembers; reduces healthcare wait times and improves access to childcare; and better supports employment for military spouses.

Additionally, the FY25 NDAA supports the deployment of National Guard to the southern border to combat the influx of illegal immigrants and drugs; deters China and prevents CCP espionage in our research institutions, supply chains, and armed forces; permanently bans TRICARE coverage of dangerous transgender medical care for minors; requires promotions be based on merit; supports Israel and counters antisemitism by banning the sale and exchange of goods at DOD commissaries that have or are currently boycotting Israel; guts DEI and cuts Critical Race Theory; and enhances fiscal responsibility by cutting $31 billion in inefficient programs, Pentagon bureaucracy, and obsolete weapons. 

S. Amdt. to H.R. 5009, the Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025, sponsored by Rep. Mike Rogers, strengthens our national security by deterring China, restoring lethality, and cracking down on inefficient uses of funds, while also supporting our servicemembers by taking meaningful steps to improve their quality of life. 

Our servicemembers are the backbone of our military and national security – it’s past time the brave men and women defending our nation’s freedom and their families are properly supported and provided for in the manner they deserve. 
 

Making Justice More Accessible to Americans

Currently, many Americans are being denied access to our justice system thanks to an overload of cases and a shortage of judges, making it harder for Americans to get their day in court, significantly delaying the justice process, while placing the burden on current judges.

Congress has not authorized new judgeships in more than 20 years, and comprehensive judgeship legislation has not been enacted since 1990 – the longest period of time that Congress has not authorized new permanent district court judgeships since district courts were established in 1789.

Meanwhile, the United States population has grown by nearly 100 million people, and with that population increase, federal case filings have increased by 40 percent. This means there are not enough judges to address cases in a timely fashion, resulting in delays, crushing caseloads, and the judges we do have being overworked as they try and fail to keep pace with increased case filings.

Americans deserve a justice system that is efficient, just, and has the amount of judges needed to give Americans their day in court. House Republicans are bringing legislation to create new district court judgeships to aid with the rise in case filings, alleviating the burden on current judges and making our justice system more accessible for those seeking to be heard wherever they live. 

S. 4199, the Judicial Understaffing Delays Getting Emergencies Solved (JUDGES) Act of 2024, introduced by Sen. Todd Young, would add 66 new federal judgeships in overworked districts across the country to help address case filing increases and ensure Americans have access to justice in a timely manner. 

It is vital we ensure our justice system is equipped to address Americans seeking justice without significant delays and overburdening judges – this legislation would do just that. 

Protecting Your Choice of Washing Machine from Biden’s War on Home Appliances

In 1975, Congress established the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA) to increase American energy production, encourage efficient energy use, reduce demand, and bolster national energy security. Under the EPCA, the Department of Energy (DOE) sets efficiency standards for 60 product categories – but these standards must be cost-effective, significantly save energy, and be technologically feasible. 

Unfortunately, President Biden’s DOE has consistently abused their authority to push a radical energy agenda on American families and consumers, attempting to implement conservation standards that aren’t economically justifiable or significantly more energy efficient. These overreaching rules would take away consumer choice and burden American families struggling to get by, raising costs and forcing Americans to use appliances that do not perform as well. 

Additionally, the Biden DOE’s proposed standards aim to shut down the use of natural gas and force electric appliances on the American people, regardless of cost, performance, or availability – putting their radical Green New Deal agenda before the needs of hardworking Americans. 

While the Biden Administration fights to impose a stream of new burdensome regulations for a multitude of vital home appliances including residential washing machines, House Republicans work to protect consumer choice and keep government agencies out of your home.

Let’s be clear: President Biden and Washington bureaucrats' war on everyday household appliances only hurts American families and small businesses. You should be able to decide what washing machine is best for you and your family – not be forced to let the government decide for you.

H.R. 7673, the Liberty in Laundry Act, introduced by Rep. Andy Ogles, prevents the Secretary of Energy and the DOE from implementing new or amended energy efficiency standards for clothes washers that are not technologically feasible and economically justified.

House Republicans will continue working to protect consumer choice from government overreach and ensure families and hardworking Americans can keep their preferred appliances in their homes.