The Week Ahead

Tuesday, May 15

• This week, Congress will begin considering several bills, including H.R. 4970, the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act; and H.R. 4310, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013.
• Congressman Yarmuth cosponsors H.R. 2248, the Medicare Prescription Drug Price Negotiation Act. This legislation authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services to negotiate lower prices for prescription drugs under Medicare Part D, which could save up to $156 billion over 10 years and lower drug costs for seniors.
• Visitors to the office include local representatives from the ALS Association and LabCorp.
• The House is expected to consider several measures under suspension of the rules.

Wednesday, May 16

• Members of the House Democratic Caucus meet to discuss legislative priorities for the week.
• Congressman Yarmuth cosponsors H.R. 3903, the Paying a Fair Share Act. This legislation repeals unfair and unnecessary tax loopholes that allow millionaires and billionaires to pay a lower effective tax rate than working and middle-class families.
• Visitors include local representatives from Papa John’s International, the Kentucky Society of CPAs, the Fraternal Order of Police, and the Kentucky Association of Realtors.
• Members of the Democratic Freshman, Sophomore, and Junior classes meet with Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi to discuss their legislative agenda.
• 2:30 PM: Congressman Yarmuth speaks with Joe Elliott on 970-WGTK to update listeners on his work in Louisville and Washington.
• The House is expected to vote on the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act. The House version of this legislation eliminates important provisions approved with a strong bipartisan majority in the Senate that extend protections against domestic violence to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender women and men; immigrants; and Native Americans.

Thursday, May 17

• 11:15 AM: Congressman Yarmuth calls in to the Mandy Connell Show on 84-WHAS to discuss a variety of topics.
• Visitors to the office include representatives from Louisville RJF International and Superior Solvents and Chemicals. 
• The House is expected to begin consideration of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013. This legislation includes wasteful spending on programs the Department of Defense has deemed unnecessary, and it extends nation-building efforts in Afghanistan that contradict the policies of the Administration to wind down the war. The legislation also fails to rectify the matter of indefinite detention of any person without being charged or tried.

Friday, May 18

• The House is expected to continue consideration of the National Defense Authorization Act.
• Congressman Yarmuth attends the Louisville Armed Forces Reception to recognize outstanding enlisted and commissioned personnel from Greater Louisville area military units, as well as award recipients from ROTC units at the University of Louisville and local high schools.
• Congressman Yarmuth attends the 35^th Annual GED Graduation Ceremony at Sallie Phillips Durrett Auditorium.