As President Trump remains under intense scrutiny for asking two foreign countries — Ukraine and China — to dig up dirt on one of his 2020 political opponents, Democrats in the U.S. House remain laser-focused on pass legislation.
Last week, Rep. Colin Allred of Dallas signed onto a major bill to lower prescription drug prices.
“Everywhere I go I hear stories from North Texans who need real relief from the high cost of prescription drugs,” Allred said in a statement. “One in four people are rationing insulin because of the high cost, and one in ten adults don’t properly take their medicine for the same reason. I am proud to cosponsor this bill and will fight to make it law.”
A homeland security bill, sponsored by Rep. Veronica Escobar of El Paso, passed the entire House several days ago.
“Passage of the Homeland Security Improvement Act will bring us closer to ensuring [the Department of Homeland Security] has the accountability and oversight the agency so desperately needs while protecting our agents, officers, and border communities, and affirming our nation’s commitment to helping the most vulnerable among us.”
Escobar also released a PSA on suicide prevention among veterans.
House Democrats, including all 13 from Texas who support the impeachment inquiry, can walk the walk on the Trump investigation while also continuing to govern.
Despite the successful lawmaking, it’s likely that any legislation passed by the House will continue to be stalled in the GOP-led Senate, where Majority Leader Sen. Mitch McConnell– who has called himself the “Grim Reaper” of progressive bills– continues to sit on legislation passed by the lower chamber.
In one July count, more than 500 House-passed bills awaited action by McConnell. They include a bill for universal background checks and another to curb government corruption.
One resolution that won’t be languishing if it reaches the Senate is the impeachment inquiry itself. “The Senate impeachment rules are very clear,” McConnell, told CNBC recently. “The Senate would have to take up an impeachment resolution if it came over from the House.”
Photo: MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images
