House lights up cannabis legalization

Presented by the Alzheimer's Association: A play-by-play preview of the day's congressional news

Apr 01, 2022 View in browser   By Katherine Tully-McManus Presented by the Alzheimer's Association UP IN SMOKE — Congress is closing out the week on a "high" note, with the House expected to clear a bill to federally decriminalize marijuana. The House passed similar legislation in December 2020, with the backing of just five Republicans. But there are expected to be fewer today. The late Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska) served as the Cannabis Caucus co-chair. There are a few tweaks in today's bill, per POLITICO's Natalie Fertig, including provisions to bar federal agencies from denying security clearances on the basis of past or current cannabis use. That's cold comfort to the Biden administration officials who were hired, and then asked to resign, after truthfully answering background check questions about prior marijuana use. Some Republicans have said they are open to some kind of revaluation of how marjijuana is treated under the law, but this bill, sponsored by House Judiciary Chair Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.) is packed with policies they don't support, including an increasing excise tax and programs focusing on social equity. But many Republicans in both chambers still fully oppose legalization. Senate smoke signals: Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) has his own legalization bill in the works, along with fellow Democrats Ron Wyden of Oregon and Cory Booker of New Jersey. But clearing the chamber's 60 vote threshold is a long shot, given that some Democrats along with most Republicans still oppose legalization.   DON'T MISS CONGRESS MINUTES: Need to follow the action on Capitol Hill blow-by-blow? Check out Minutes, POLITICO's new platform that delivers the latest exclusives, twists and much more in real time. Get it on your desktop or download the POLITICO mobile app for iOS or Android. CHECK OUT CONGRESS MINUTES HERE.     GOOD MORNING! Welcome to Huddle, the play-by-play guide to all things Capitol Hill, on this April, 1 2022, where two tornadoes touched down in the region last night. We're not in Kansas anymore, Toto. WHERE COVID AID STANDS — In line behind a Supreme Court nomination and maybe a Russian trade bill, on the Senate schedule. Senate negotiators are closing in on a deal to move a roughly $10 billion package of coronavirus preparedness funding, but it isn't rock solid and the path ahead is looking messy. Sarah and Burgess break it down. "We're close. A few more things have got to be ironed out," said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer in an interview. "We're trying to get global stuff in there, We're working hard on it. That's one of the things we're trying to get done." The rescission of international aid to boost vaccination rates and Covid preparedness abroad is rankling Democrats, who warn of global health consequences and could threaten the deal's fate in the House. But Senate Democrats, who left town Thursday, say they're not done fighting for international vaccine funding. Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) said they are waiting on a Congressional Budget Office score and Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) says work isn't done yet and that the total dollar amount isn't locked in. SEX, DRUGS AND CAWTHORN ON A ROLL— Rep. Madison Cawthorn (R-N.C.) showed up to support Rep. Liz Cheney's (R-Wyo.) GOP challenger on Wednesday night, while colleagues mocked him and some key Republicans are throwing their weight behind a challenge to the freshman who courts controversy. "I'm looking at somebody who is going to best represent [Western North Carolina], and I've concluded Mr. Cawthorn is not that person," Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) said, adding that he's endorsed an incumbent's primary challenger for "the first time in my political career … because I feel that strongly about it." At issue: Cawthorn's comments about "sexual perversion" in Washington and allegations that fellow lawmakers host orgies and use cocaine. (Along with calling Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy a "thug," charges of driving with a revoked license.) Orgy or no orgy: In a meeting with Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) and others, Cawthorn tried to deny using the word "orgy," prompting party leaders to roll the tape, reports Olivia. And he's not backing down. In one email to supporters, Cawthirn began: "I will never bow down to the mob." And a campaign ad launched Thursday has Cawthorn claiming: "The radical left, the establishment, and the media want to take me down … I'm not going anywhere."   A message from the Alzheimer's Association: Alzheimer's disease is on track to cost our country nearly $1 trillion annually by 2050. Beyond the toll Alzheimer's takes on those living with the disease and their caregivers, it could also bankrupt our health system. With millions of lives and trillions of dollars at stake, increased research funding and policies that increase the participation of underrepresented populations in Alzheimer's clinical trials will bring the breakthroughs needed to end this devastating disease. Learn more here .   AND… THEY'RE OUT — Reps. Filemon Vela's (D-Texas) and Jeff Fortenberry (R-Neb.) both closed out their careers in Congress on Thursday. The House Clerk read Rep. Vela's resignation letter aloud to the House on Thursday night and the nameplate came down off of Fortenberry's office the same day. Vela is taking a job with Akin Gump, a prominent lobbying and law firm while Fortenberry is awaiting sentencing for his felony convictions for making false statements to federal investigators and scheming to falsify and conceal material facts. RELATED: U.S. Rep. Filemon Vela steps down, setting up a heated battle for his South Texas district, from Abby Livingston at The Texas Tribune HUDDLE HOTDISH Praising Peggy…Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) gave a heartfelt floor speech recognizing House Bill Clerk Peggy Fields and the unsung work of the House Clerk's office that keeps the House running. She's been singing at work and getting her doctorate outside of work, all while processing bill after bill in the House. Youths spook Washington… "Fearful of bad PR, left-leaning groups are rushing to embrace staff unions and boost salary floors — while upending some longstanding D.C. assumptions about paying your dues." Read more on the vibe shift from Michael Schaffer in POLITICO Magazine. You are what you eat… Senate Dining workers reach out to their powerful customers for help as they struggle with both Restaurant Associates and their union, writes Pablo Manríquez at Latino Rebels, following Chris Cioffi's Thursday scoop.   SUBSCRIBE TO NATIONAL SECURITY DAILY : Keep up with the latest critical developments from Ukraine and across Europe in our daily newsletter, National Security Daily. The Russian invasion of Ukraine could disrupt the established world order and result in a refugee crisis, increased cyberattacks, rising energy costs and additional disruption to global supply chains. Go inside the top national security and foreign-policymaking shops for insight on the global threats faced by the U.S. and its allies and what actions world leaders are taking to address them. Subscribe today.     QUICK LINKS  'The baggage is too heavy': GOP foes tee up last-ditch effort to sink Herschel Walker , from Natalie Allison 'Fangs out from day one': Chaos engulfs key state in fight for House majority, from Ally Mutnick It's Bennie Thompson's Moment to Defend Democracy, from Grace Segers at The New Republic TRANSITIONS  Jay Campbell is leaving his role as freshman Rep. Troy Nehl's (D-Texas) senior legislative assistant to work in the alcoholic beverage distribution industry at The Independent Brewing Federation. Wilson Beaver is now policy adviser for the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. He most recently was a research intern for the committee.   A message from the Alzheimer's Association:   TODAY IN CONGRESS The House convenes at 9 a.m. The Senate is out AROUND THE HILL Calm after the storm (literally, tornadoes.) TRIVIA THURSDAY'S WINNER:Lorraine Tong correctly answered that Sen. Philip Hart (D-Mich.) was the senator who was flown around in a helicopter by his wife while on the campaign trail. Janey Briggs Hart was the first female helicopter pilot in Michigan. TODAY'S QUESTION from Lorraine: Name the Senator who represented a record-setting three states – what were these three states? The first person to correctly guess gets a mention in the next edition of Huddle. Send your answers to ktm@politico.com. GET HUDDLE emailed to your phone each morning. Follow Katherine on Twitter @ktullymcmanus   A message from the Alzheimer's Association: More than six million Americans are living with Alzheimer's disease, and 11 million more are providing unpaid care to them. In 2022, Alzheimer's and other dementias will cost taxpayers $321 billion and, without medical breakthroughs, these costs will rise to nearly $1 trillion by 2050. Federal funding has grown thanks to bipartisan Congressional champions, but a sustained investment by the federal government is needed to continue the momentum. And while Alzheimer's disproportionately affects older Black and Hispanic Americans, much of the Alzheimer's research to date has not included sufficient participation to be representative of the U.S. population. The Equity in Neuroscience and Alzheimer's Clinical Trials (ENACT) Act (S. 1548 / H.R. 3085), would increase the participation of underrepresented populations in Alzheimer's clinical trials, while researchers work toward treatments for all. Congress must act now. Learn more here.     Follow us

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