Month: June 2019

The Senate reconvened early this morning following passage (86-8) of its version of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The upper chamber used an unusual procedure to pass the $750 billion bill, allowing for a vote on a Democratic amendment that would restrict military authorization against Iran that would be retroactively added to the measure if it passes today. However, the provision is subject to a 60-vote threshold and is likely to fail.

Continue reading “Today on the Hill: Senate Wraps Up June With NDAA Amendment Vote”

House lawmakers are set to pick up amendment debate on the fiscal year (FY) 2020 spending bill for Financial Services and General Government (FSGG) this afternoon. Thus far, the House has debated 10 out of the 46 amendments that have been made in order, approving a measure that would prevent the relocation of two U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) agencies to the Kansas City metropolitan area. Additional amendments up for consideration today includes a host of measures from House Financial Services Chairwoman Maxine Waters (D-CA) that would: (1) block the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) from implementing its Regulation Best Interest (Reg BI); (2) block registration of companies that force shareholders to accept mandatory arbitration clauses; and (3) prevent the SEC from changing rules around shareholder proposals.

Continue reading “Today on the Hill: House to Clear FSGG Spending Bill”

Congressional leaders are facing headwinds within their respective parties on a bill that would seek to fulfill President Donald Trump’s priorities on the U.S.-Mexico border. House Democrats are considering pulling their $4.5 billion measure — which includes less money for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and extra oversight demands — amid resistance from the Progressive and Hispanic Caucuses over the President’s recent actions pertaining to deportation. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) could bring his bipartisan $4.6 billion supplemental appropriations bill to the floor for a vote as soon as today, yet fellow Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) could hold up the upper chamber’s bill over objections to the lack of offsets. The intraparty divisions could push consideration of the border supplemental past the Independence Day district work period.

Continue reading “Today on the Hill: Uncertainty Rises on Border Supplemental Bill”

The House and Senate stand will return to action later this afternoon to kick off a busy week of floor activity. In the House, lawmakers will look to pass the second appropriations “minibus” early this week prior to moving onto consideration of the spending bill for Financial Services and General Government (FSGG). House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) stated last week that it’s possible that the spending bills for the Legislative Branch and Homeland Security could get tacked onto the FSGG bill, as Democratic leadership has stressed that they want to clear all 12 appropriations measures prior to the Independence Day district work period. In addition to its work on appropriations, the lower chamber will also consider a bill that seeks to bolster election security through authorization of new funding for Election Assistance Commission Grants to states for securing their voting systems. 

Continue reading “This Week on the Hill: Congress Wraps up June Session with Key Legislative Items”

House lawmakers will pick up amendment debate and roll call votes today on the second fiscal year (FY) 2020 appropriations “minibus” after lawmakers passed (226-203) the first four-bill spending package late yesterday. Thus far, the lower chamber has approved 64 amendments to the underlying bill — which includes Agriculture, Commerce-Justice-Science (CJS), Interior-Environment, Military Construction-Veterans’ Affairs (VA) and Transportation-Housing and Urban Development (HUD) spending bills — after House Republicans backed off on requests for a roll call vote on a bulk of the proposed amendments. Provisions to the five-bill package that have been adopted include: (1) a measure that would prohibit funding from being used to update broadband availability maps using data provided from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC); (2) an amendment that would increase funding for Department of Justice (DOJ) grants that provide bulletproof vests and body cameras to state and local law enforcement; and (3) a provision boosting funding for DOJ grant programs aimed at improving mental health services.

Continue reading “Today on the Hill: Approps Work Continues After House Passes First ‘Minibus’”

House lawmakers return to action this afternoon as another marathon legislative work week is taking shape. The lower chamber will resume consideration of amendments to the first appropriations “minibus,” beginning with postponed roll call votes on the Defense portion of the four-bill spending package. Votes are expected past the midnight hour tonight, as GOP lawmakers will reportedly continue to request roll call votes on amendments to the State-Foreign Operations section of the bill that are slated for consideration later today.

Continue reading “Today on the Hill: House Resumes Spending Bill Frenzy”

Congress will gear up for another hectic work session this week as both chambers have teed up high-profile legislative items for 2019. When the House returns Tuesday, lawmakers will finish roll call votes on dozens of amendments to the first “minibus” package consisting of the Labor-Health and Human Services-Education, Energy and Water Development, Defense, and State-Foreign Operations spending bills. Once the four-bill measure clears the lower chamber, the House will take up a second minibus (text; amendments) which includes the Agriculture, Commerce-Justice-Science (CJS), Interior-Environment, Military Construction-Veterans’ Affairs (VA) and Transportation-Housing and Urban Development (HUD) spending bills.

Continue reading “This Week on the Hill: High-profile Agenda Items Headline Congressional Floor Action”