The Senate is in session this week and is scheduled to be in session through the end of next week. The House is out for August recess and will return to Washington on August 31.
Funeral services for Sen. Lindsey Graham took place here in D.C. on Tuesday with a short ceremony in the U.S. Capitol, followed by a service in the National Cathedral, where President Trump gave remarks. On Wednesday, Graham will make a final visit to the South Carolina State House and then to First Baptist Church of Columbia for the main service.
Back in Washington, last week the House of Representatives passed a $95 billion budget resolution that allocates $73 billion to national defense and the war in Iran, $12 billion to farmers, and $10 billion to assist with implementing portions of the SAVE America Act. The Senate will have to pass the same budget resolution in order for Congress to start writing the reconciliation bill.
Additionally, the House passed the FY27 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which focuses on “rebuilding the arsenal of freedom,” as described in materials put out by the House Armed Services Committee.
A 36-page overview of the new NDAA explains the committee’s vision. “The FY27 NDAA carries out the President’s Peace through Strength Agenda and fulfills his commitment to build a ready, capable, and lethal fighting force to deter our adversaries.”
The White House recently issued a “Statement of Administration Policy” citing those parts of the legislation it supports and those it opposes. The NDAA will now make its way through the legislative process.
Finally, an incredible story hit the news late last week involving Dr. Anthony Fauci. Fauci’s diary was released to the public after serious investigative work by Sen. Rand Paul and the Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee. The shocking revelations from the diary include that he sought personal fame and wealth and that he lied and covered up important facts about COVID-19, leading to a preemptive pardon from then President Biden.
Dr. Fauci was subpoenaed to testify before the committee on Wednesday. His testimony was nothing more than pleading the Fifth, but as Sen. Hawley aptly pointed out during his questioning of Fauci, “you don’t have any rights under the Fifth Amendment because you’ve been pardoned. As you very well know, as the Supreme Court has been clear for a century or more, Brown v. Walker 1896 when he has been pardoned he may not stand upon his privilege.”
As Sen. Paul said on X, “If Anthony Fauci lies before Congress on Wednesday, as he did in previous hearings, his preemptive pardon won’t cover him.”
ICYMI…
- Fox News: SEN RAND PAUL: The COVID cover-up had layers. I’m peeling them back one at a time
- The Federalist: 10 Questions For Congress to Ask Fauci About His Covid Corruption and Coverup
- Breitbart: Fauci Admits in January 2020 Diary Entry That Scientists Believed Coronavirus Likely Stemmed from LAB Leak