This Week on the Hill: Congress Set to Resume Funding Fight

Following an emotional week of remembrance for the late former President George H.W. Bush, Congress is poised to resume talks on a deal to fund the rest of the government. The contentious debate over President Trump’s border wall demands has deadlocked the final stretch of the FY2019 appropriations process, leaving seven funding bills in limbo. Democratic leadership — who are pushing for a deal that would clear six of the seven outstanding appropriations bills and then pass a continuing resolution (CR) to fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) — is set to meet with the President on Tuesday to discuss a resolution.

Additionally, lawmakers are anticipating the release of final legislative text for the Farm Bill. The bill — which funds crop insurance, farm subsidies, and nutritional assistance — reportedly does not include the GOP-sponsored Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) work requirement language, dealing a blow to conservatives who had pushed the measures that passed the lower chamber. Reports suggest that the finalized text could be released as soon as today, with a vote on the bill in both chambers later this week.

On the floor, both chambers of Congress will resume legislative business today. In the House, lawmakers are set to take up 11 bills under suspension of the rules. When the Senate reconvenes this afternoon, the upper chamber will resume consideration of Justin Muzinich to be Deputy Secretary of the Treasury.