Month: September 2019

House lawmakers struck a deal yesterday on a continuing resolution (CR) (text; summary) that would punt the deadline to fund the federal government for fiscal year (FY 2020) until Nov. 21. The bill includes a host of policy riders designed to address pressing deadlines for the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), and numerous expiring health programs. As House lawmakers look to pass the stopgap funding resolution today, a timeline for Senate action — as well as the fate of the dozens of policy riders that have been tacked on — is unclear at this point.

Continue reading “Today on the Hill: House Strikes Deal on Stopgap Funding Measure”

House lawmakers will resume legislative business today as members eye action on government funding. The House Rules Committee is slated to meet later today to craft the rule that will govern debate for a continuing resolution (CR) that would fund the government through Nov. 21. Additional details on the House CR remain unclear, as lawmakers are still jostling for certain legislative priorities — including extensions for expiring Medicare and Medicaid programs, as well as increased funding for payments to farmers impacted by tariffs — to be tacked on to the bill.

Continue reading “Today on the Hill: House Readies Stopgap Funding Bill for Floor Time”

Congress will reconvene this week to continue work on several key funding priorities. As the Sept. 30 government funding deadline approaches, House Democrats are expected to queue up a continuing resolution (CR) for consideration as negotiators jostle to avoid another lapse in funding. The upper chamber is expected to take up the CR shortly thereafter, yet it remains to be seen whether the two sides can avoid disagreements over certain funding extensions, as well as how long the stopgap measure will fund the government. 

Continue reading “This Week on the Hill: Lawmakers Eye Stopgap Funding Bill to Avert Sept. 30 Deadline”

Congress has wrapped up legislative business for the week and will reconvene next week to continue work on pressing government funding deadlines. As the Sept. 30 deadline approaches, House Democrats are expected to queue up a continuing resolution (CR) for consideration as negotiators jostle to avoid another lapse in funding. The upper chamber is expected to take up the CR shortly thereafter, yet it remains to be seen whether the two sides can avoid disagreements over certain funding extensions, as well as how long the stopgap measure will fund the government. Meanwhile, the Senate Appropriations Committee is slated to resume its work on FY 2020 spending bills next week, including the funding measures for Financial Services and General Government (FSGG), Transportation-Housing and Urban Development, and Military Construction-Veterans Affairs.

Continue reading “Next Week on the Hill: House Tees Up Stopgap Funding Resolution”

The Senate’s push to fund the federal government through fiscal year (FY) 2020 got off to a rocky start yesterday, as the Senate Appropriations Committee postponed its scheduled markup of the Labor-HHS-Education bill amid partisan disagreements over policy riders. Democrats were prepared to offer an amendment to the Labor-HHS-Education bill that would bar the Trump administration from implementing its Title X family planning rule — a move that prompted Chairman Richard Shelby (R-AL) to delay the subcommittee markup while both sides iron out their differences on “poison pill” provisions. The two sides have also yet to strike an agreement on 302(b) allocation levels, reinforcing the need for a continuing resolution (CR) to fund the government through mid-November or early December.

Continue reading “Today on the Hill: Senate Approps Process Iced Over Partisan Disputes”

Voters in North Carolina’s 9th Congressional District will head to the polls today for a highly-anticipated special election after the 2018 race was marred by credible allegations of election fraud. Democrat Dan McCready — who was also the 2018 nominee — will face off against NC State Rep Dan Bishop in a tossup race that will be closely watched as a possible indicator for the 2020 election. Elsewhere in the Tar Heel State, voters in the 3^rd Congressional District will also head to the polls for a special election to replace the late Rep. Walter Jones (R-NC). GOP State Rep. Greg Murphy is expected to knock off former Greenville Mayor Allen Thomas in this safe Republican district.

Continue reading “Today on the Hill: NC Voters Head to Polls for Bellwether Special Election”

Congress is set to return to action today as lawmakers gear up for a high-profile legislative blitz to close out 2019. Government funding will be a top priority for legislators when both chambers gavel in as lawmakers have 13 just legislative days to avert another government funding lapse. While the Senate Appropriations Committee plans to begin marking up measures on Thursday — tackling bills for Defense, Labor-HHS-Education, Energy-Water, and State-Operations — it's likely that both chambers will need to pass a continuing resolution (CR) to extend funding beyond Sept. 30, allowing negotiators to hammer out broader agreement for fiscal year (FY) 2020. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) stated late last week that the House will vote on a stopgap funding bill during the week of Sept. 16.

Continue reading “This Week on the Hill: Lawmakers Return for Busy September Session”