Month: February 2019

A bipartisan group of Senators —spearheaded by Sens. David Perdue (R-GA), Johnny Isakson (R-GA) and Doug Jones (D-AL) — have introduced a bill (S. 572) to provide relief for states adversely impacted by hurricanes, wildfires, earthquakes and other natural disasters last year. The package includes funding for Army Corps of Engineers construction projects aimed at shore, flood, and storm damage protection. It would also provide funding for: (1) emergency forest restoration; (2) wildfire management; (3) flood mitigation; and (4) infrastructure recovery.

Continue reading “Today on the Hill: Bipartisan Group of Senators Introduce Disaster Relief Package”

Following passage (245-182) of a resolution of disapproval that would block President Trump’s national emergency declaration, House Democrats have teed up another major issue on their policy platform — gun control. House lawmakers are set to consider a bill (H.R. 8) that aims to strengthen the existing gun background check system by mandating universal background checks — thus closing a loophole for buyers online and at gun shows —ensuring individuals prohibited from gun possession are not able to obtain firearms. After passage of the Bipartisan Background Checks Act, the lower chamber will consider a bill (H.R. 1112) that would extend the initial background check review period to 10 days from three. While both measures are expected to easily pass the House, their fates are uncertain in the GOP-controlled Senate and White House as President Trump ponders a potential veto.

Continue reading “Today on the Hill: House Begins Push to Reform Gun Background Checks”

House lawmakers are preparing their first move in a series of legislative and legal maneuvers to prevent President Trump from circumventing Congress to fund a border wall. Lawmakers will vote on a resolution of disapproval (H.J.Res 46) that would reject the President’s national emergency declaration on the southern border. While reports suggest that the House GOP is expected to largely vote against the Democratic resolution, schisms among Senate Republicans are starting to emerge as Sens. Susan Collins (R-ME), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Thom Tillis have indicated they will join Democrats in voting to reject the national emergency declaration.

Continue reading “Today on the Hill: House Prepares to Rebuke Trump National Emergency”

Lawmakers in both chambers will resume legislative business this afternoon following a brief President’s Day district work period. On the House floor this week, Democratic leadership has teed up a pair of measures aimed at strengthening the nation’s gun background check system. The Bipartisan Background Checks Act (H.R. 8) and the Enhanced Background Checks Act (H.R. 1112) are both expected to pass the lower chamber easily later this week. Their fates, however, are uncertain in the GOP-controlled Senate and White House. For today, House lawmakers will consider seven bills under suspension of the rules, including a bill out of the Energy and Commerce Committee (H.R. 525) that directs the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish a public-private partnership for purposes of identifying health care waste, fraud, and abuse.

Continue reading “This Week on the Hill: Showdown Over Trump’s National Emergency Declaration Looms”

In response to President Trump’s southern border national emergency declaration, House Democrats are set to introduce a resolution of disapproval that would reject the President’s declaration. It’s the first move in a series of potential legislative and legal maneuvers by Congressional Democrats to block President Trump from circumventing Congress to fund a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border. The resolution is expected to easily pass the House and could end up attracting the support of some Republican Senators — such as Sens. Susan Collins (R-ME), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Lamar Alexander (R-TN), and Mitt Romney (R-UT) — who have been critical of the national emergency declaration.

Continue reading “Next Week on the Hill: House Democrats Gear Up to Thwart Trump’s National Emergency Declaration”

The Week in Review

The House (300-128) and Senate (83-16) overwhelmingly passed a compromise spending measure (text; summary) to avert a second partial government shutdown last week. The bill was signed by President Trump, who simultaneously issued a national emergency declaration in order to tap into Congressionally appropriated funds for additional border security spending, including: (1) $600 million from a Treasury forfeiture fund; (2) $2.5 billion from a Defense Department drug interdiction program; and (3) $3.5 billion from the military construction budget. The president’s move will likely face a challenge in Congress, as well as a tough battle in the courts, as Democrats prepare legislative and legal options to prevent the circumvention.

Continue reading “Health Policy Report”

Border security negotiators unveiled a compromise spending deal (text; summary) late last night as lawmakers sprint to clear the bill ahead of tomorrow’s funding deadline. While lawmakers on both sides have crowed over the deal for omitting their respective policy priorities, the measure is expected to clear both chambers in order to avoid a second partial government shutdown. President Trump is also expected to sign the bill despite falling short of his $5.7 billion border wall request.

Continue reading “Today on the Hill: Congress Aims to Pass Newly Unveiled Spending Deal”

Lawmakers are poised to unveil details of a comprehensive border security deal that they hope will prevent a partial government shutdown ahead of Friday’s deadline. The deal — headlined by a Homeland Security appropriations bill including $1.375 billion in border security funding — is expected to be signed by President Trump once it passes both chambers despite falling short of the President’s $5.7 billion priority. The agreement will also fund the other six outstanding appropriations bills through the end of this fiscal year, including: Agriculture; Commerce, Justice and Science; Financial Services and General Government; Interior and Environment; State and Foreign operations; and Transportation, Housing and Urban Development.

Continue reading “Today on the Hill: Lawmakers Await Details of Highly Anticipated Funding Deal”