This Week on the Hill: Senate Looks to Clinch First Spending Package

House and Senate lawmakers will reconvene later today to close out the October legislative session. In the upper chamber, Senators will pick up debate on their first fiscal year (FY) 2020 appropriations package, starting with consideration of three amendments to the underlying bill. While the Senate had originally planned to take up a second minibus containing funding for Defense and the opioid crisis, partisan disagreements over President Donald Trump’s border security policies will likely sidetrack consideration of the measure until November. Barring any procedural or political hiccups, the first minibus is expected to pass later this week prior to the next district work period.

In the House, lawmakers will take up 17 bills under suspension of the rules. These include: (1) a Financial Services bill that makes reforms to the Federal Bank Secrecy Act and anti-money laundering laws; (2) an Energy and Commerce bill that seeks to boost transparency on discounts provided by drug manufacturers; (3) a Transportation and Infrastructure bill that mandates the use of funding in the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund; and (4) a Judiciary bill that seeks to quell the online sale of electronic cigarettes to minors. A full list of measures under consideration today can be found here.