Month: June 2019

House lawmakers are set for another marathon day on the floor as members look to clear over 200 amendments to the four-bill appropriations “minibus.” The lower chamber held more than two-dozen roll call votes on amendments (batch 1; batch 2) well past midnight yesterday after House conservatives prevented expedited voice-vote adoption by requesting a recorded vote on every amendment. As of this morning, GOP lawmakers are continuing to request roll call votes on amendments being brought to the floor, a move that could push final consideration of the Labor-Health and Human Services-Education, Energy and Water Development, Defense, and State-Foreign Operations package into next week.

Continue reading “Today on the Hill: House Continues Work on Four-Bill Minibus”

House Democrats have reduced the first “minibus” from five bills to four, pulling the spending bill for the Legislative Branch from the package late yesterday. The spending bill was pulled amid backlash from lawmakers over a provision that would give lawmakers a pay raise for the first time since 2009 — an issue that has divided rank-and-file and swing-district members. House Rules Committee Chairman James McGovern (D-MA) stated it’s possible that Legislative Branch appropriations could be added to the second minibus (H.R. 3055) slated for consideration next week, 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 “Today on the Hill: Legislative Approps Bill Pulled from First ‘Minibus’ Package”

House lawmakers will kick off a busy legislative work week later this afternoon as the House begins full consideration of fiscal year (FY) 2020 spending bills. The lower chamber will take up the first “minibus” package (summary; amendments) for FY 2020 on Wednesday, containing five appropriations bills. The five spending bills included in the first minibus include: Labor-Health and Human Services-Education (text; report), Energy and Water Development (text; report), Legislative Branch (text; report), Defense (text; report), State-Foreign Operations (text; report).

Continue reading “This Week on the Hill: House Set to Debate First FY 2020 ‘Minibus’”

Congressional lawmakers have completed their legislative business for the week, wrapping up early to accommodate a Congressional Delegation (CODEL) to Normandy to commemorate the 75^th anniversary of D-Day. When the lower chamber returns next week, House lawmakers will begin consideration of the first fiscal year (FY) 2020 “minibus” package containing five FY 2020 appropriations bills. The five spending bills included in the first minibus include: Labor-Health and Human Services-Education (text; report), Energy and Water Development (text; report), Legislative Branch (text; report), Defense (text; report), State-Foreign Operations (text; report).

Continue reading “Next Week on the Hill: House Kicks Off FY 2020 Appropriations Votes”

House lawmakers will wrap up their legislative work week today and embark on a Congressional Delegation (CODEL) to Normandy to commemorate the 75^th anniversary of D-Day. On the floor, the lower chamber is considering four suspension bills out of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee. Three of the measures are aimed at addressing ocean acidification, including: (1) a bill (H.R. 1237) that would amend the Federal Ocean Acidification Research and Monitoring Act of 2009 to establish an Ocean Acidification Advisory Board; (2) a measure (H.R. 1716) directing the Commerce Department and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to conduct coastal community vulnerability assessments related to ocean acidification; and (3) an act (H.R. 1921) that would authorize Federal agencies to establish prize competitions for innovation or adaptation management development relating to ocean acidification.

Continue reading “Today on the Hill: House Tees Up Suspensions Aimed At Addressing Ocean Acidification”

House Democrats will look to take action on addressing the immigration status of millions of young adult immigrants. The lower chamber will begin consideration of the so-called DREAM Act (H.R. 6) that would provide permanent status and a pathway to citizenship for eligible young adult immigrants protected under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, as well as for temporary U.S. residents protected under the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) programs. While the bill is expected to pass the House, a vote on final passage could be delayed until next week as lawmakers leave town early for a Congressional Delegation (CODEL) to Normandy.

Continue reading “Today on the Hill: House Democrats Line Up Measure Addressing DACA Recipients”