House tweaks weekly schedule

House GOP leaders shifted the timing of votes on passenger rail and “secret science” bills this week due to the sudden votes Tuesday on funding for the Department of Homeland Security.

The House was originally slated to vote on bipartisan legislation to authorize funding for Amtrak. But that vote will be pushed to Wednesday after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s address to Congress and the passage of the DHS funding measure dominated Tuesday’s floor schedule.

{mosads}Additionally, the House will consider a measure on Thursday that would prevent the Environmental Protection Agency from basing regulations on scientific research not made available to the public.

Another “secret science” bill that would overhaul the EPA’s Scientific Advisory Board that was originally supposed to be on the floor on Wednesday or Thursday will now be considered the week after the House returns from recess.

The House is scheduled to leave Washington for a weeklong recess on Thursday. Members won’t return until Monday, March 16.