Congress’ Refusal to Release the Text of the Israel-Ukraine-Taiwan-TikTok Bill Despite The U.S. Senate Debating It Today

[johnkarls]

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This “kettle of fish” appears to be unprecedented!!!

According to the U.S. House of Representatives website (https://www.house.gov/), the House last Saturday IN THE FOLLOWING ORDER –

(1) Passed H.R. 8034 (Israel Security Supplemental Appropriations Act).
(2) Passed H.R. 8035 (Ukraine Security Supplemental Appropriations Act).
(3) Rejected a motion to recommit H.R. 8035.
(4) Rejected separately three amendments to H.R. 8035.
(5) Passed H.R. 8036 (Indo-Pacific Security Supplemental Appropriations Act) – i.e. the Taiwan bill.
(6) Passed H.R. 8038 (21st Century Peace through Strength Act).
(7) Passed an Amendment to H.R. 8038.
(8) Rejected H.R. 3602 (End the Border Catastrophe Act) i.e. the U.S. Southern Border.

So what is unprecedented about this???

Neither the House of Representatives nor the Senate has released the text of the final bill – which is widely reported to contain AS A SINGLE PACKAGE the Israel, Ukraine, Taiwan and TikTok bills FOR A SINGLE UP-OR-DOWN SENATE VOTE ON THE ENTIRE PACKAGE.

It appears from the foregoing sequential list of House actions, that H.R. 8038 (21st Century Peace through Strength Act) is that SINGLE PACKAGE.

HOWEVER, the official House of Representatives website STILL SHOWS THE APRIL 17 VERSION of H.R. 8038 – long before its provisions were gutted to be replaced by the Israel/Ukraine/Taiwan/TikTok provisions on April 20 as recorded above – please see https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-con ... /8038/text.

AND THE OFFICIAL SENATE WEBSITE (https://www.senate.gov/) still at this moment says today’s (Tuesday April 23) floor proceedings – which are widely reported in the media (and trumpeted by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer) to be considering the Israel/Ukraine/Taiwan/TikTok bill –

“Floor Proceedings - Tuesday, Apr 23, 2024
“10:00 a.m.: Convene and resume consideration of the motion to proceed to H.R.3935, Securing Growth and Robust Leadership in American Aviation Act.”

In other words, no mention of the Israel/Ukraine/Taiwan/TikTok bill implying that Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is a liar.

BTW, I have just finished calling both the local and Washington DC offices of each of my U.S. Senators to see if either of them has a text of the Israel/Ukraine/Taiwan/TikTok bill that both are supposedly considering at this moment – and was asked by the automated systems of all four offices to leave a voicemail.

Speculation???

The Senators probably do each have access to the text.

Which means that every lobbyist also has access to the text.

But since the House is out this week and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has promised, and President Biden has requested, passage this week, it doesn’t appear likely that the Senate will make any changes despite what the lobbyists might want.

It is respectfully suggested that even Yul Brynner, if he were still alive, would sing “It’s a Puzzlement”!!!

For anyone who isn’t 82, that’s a reference to the Rodgers & Hammerstein Broadway Musical "The King and I" which premiered 3/29/51 and ran for nearly 3 years after winning all the Tony Awards – and then was made into the immortal 1956 movie which was nominated for 9 Oscars of which it won 5 including Best Actor for Yul Brynner.