Rules Committee to prep healthcare, energy bills for floor action next week

On the same day, the committee will set a rule for H.R. 1214, which would end federal funding for the construction of school-based healthcare facilities.

Both programs were established under last year’s healthcare law, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act — the decision to eliminate them reflects the ongoing effort of House Republicans to dismantle that law.

On May 3, the committee will meet at 3 p.m. to approve a rule for H.R. 1229, the “Putting the Gulf of Mexico Back to Work Act.” That will would require the Department of the Interior to decide on drilling permits in the Gulf within 30 days.

This is just one of three energy-related bills that the House is expected to take up in the coming weeks.

Also on May 3, the committee will establish a rule for H.R. 3, the “No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act.” This bill, sponsored by Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.), would permanently ban the use of taxpayer funds for abortion, something that is now done only temporarily via the so-called Hyde Amendment.

The Rules Committee had planned to approve a rule for H.R. 3 earlier in April, but this work was postponed in part because of the difficulties in reaching an agreement on FY 2011 spending.