Today on the Hill: House Looks to Finalize 3-Bill Spending Package, WRDA Reauthorization

The House returns to action this morning as the chamber seeks to clear two major legislative priorities. Lawmakers are expected to approve the conference report (H.R. 5895) for the minibus spending package for military construction and veterans’ affairs, legislative branch, and energy and water. The House will also vote on a measure (S. 3021) under suspension of the rules that would reauthorize the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA). Additional suspension work for the House includes: (1) a bill (S.97) that enables civilian research and development of advanced nuclear energy technologies by private and public institutions; (2) a bill (H.R. 6227) to provide for a coordinated Federal program to accelerate quantum research and development for the economic and national security of the United States; and (3) a Senate amendment to a House-passed bill (H.R. 589) that establishes Department of Energy policy for science and energy research and development programs

Following the approval of the three-bill minibus conference report — as well as the confirmation of Charles Rettig to be Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) — the Senate has completed legislative business for the week and will return to Washington next Monday. When the chamber returns Monday, Senators will vote on the highly anticipated Opioid Crisis Response Act (section-by-section). The bill is comprised of more than 70 bills reported out of five Senate committees and touches on nearly every aspect of the epidemic. If passed, the bill will need to be reconciled with the House-passed measure (H.R. 6) prior to becoming law.