Month: June 2020

Capitol Hill Update

House lawmakers will meet today to kick off a two-day legislative blitz prior to the July 4 district work period. Democrats are expected to call up a sweeping 10 year, $1.5 trillion package of infrastructure legislation (text; summary; fact sheet) prior to adjourning for the July 4 district work period this week. The wide-ranging, ambitious package would allocate funding to address several key areas including surface transportation, schools and child-care facilities, hospital and health care infrastructure, drinking water, housing, broadband, and green energy. It would also look to promote and expand bond financing tools to help state and local governments raise money to address their own projects. The package is likely to pass the lower chamber next week but is considered dead-on-arrival in the GOP-controlled Senate. However, with the current surface transportation law set to expire on Sept. 30, officials will likely look to reach a compromise version that reflects bipartisan priorities in the House and Senate surface transportation reauthorization measures.

Continue reading “Health Policy Report (6/29)”

— SENATE LOOKS TO CLINCH PUBLIC LANDS PACKAGE NEXT WEEK. A vote on final passage is expected to occur early next week, which would send the bill to the House for consideration.

— HOYER DETAILS UPCOMING HOUSE FLOOR SCHEDULE. The House Majority Leader offered some details about the floor schedule for late June and July, including plans to spend three days debating an infrastructure package.

— CONGRESS CONFRONTS SUMMER DEADLINES FOR STIMULUS SPENDING DECISIONS. Important deadlines are looming as lawmakers deliberate the next steps for COVID-19 relief.

— HHS ANNOUNCES COVID-19 TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FUNDING FOR HEALTH CENTERS. $8 million in funding through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) is being distributed to more than 70 organizations to support COVID-19 training and technical assistance.

Continue reading “TRP Tip Sheet: Senate Looks to Clinch Public Lands Package Next Week”

— MNUCHIN OUTLINES WH PRIORITIES FOR NEXT COVID-19 RELIEF EFFORT. Secretary Mnuchin stated yesterday that another round of relief legislation is “definitely” needed.

— SENATE ARMED SERVICES APPROVES NDAA. Specific details on the legislation are expected to be released today.

— LAWMAKERS PUSH HHS FOR MORE MEDICAID PROVIDER RELIEF FUNDING. Lawmakers joined providers Wednesday in asking HHS to dedicate more COVID-19 relief funding on top of the $25 billion the department announced Tuesday for Medicaid providers and safety net hospitals.

— NIH TO STUDY COVID-19 TREATMENTS FOR CHILDREN. The study will evaluate drugs prescribed to treat COVID-19 in infants, children and adolescents across the country.

Continue reading “TRP Tip Sheet: Mnuchin Outlines WH Priorities for Next COVID-19 Relief Effort”

— HOUSE SCHEDULES VOTES ON POLICE REFORM BILL. The House will be in session for votes during the week of Jun. 22 to consider the package.

— SENATE APPROPS MARKUPS SET FOR WEEK OF JUN. 22. Appropriators still searching for agreement on subcommittee funding allocations.

— TRUMP ADMIN OPPOSES EXTENDING ENHANCED UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFIT. The Trump administration opposes a Democratic proposal to extend a $600 per week federal unemployment benefit approved in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

— HHS ANNOUNCES $25 BILLION IN RELIEF FUNDING FOR MEDICAID PROVIDERS, SAFETY NET HOSPITALS. TRP’s analysis of this distribution can be read here.

Continue reading “TRP Tip Sheet: House Schedules Votes on Police Reform Bill”

— DEMOCRATS INTRODUCE SWEEPING POLICE REFORM BILL. Congressional Democrats proposed a sweeping overhaul of police oversight and procedures on Monday in response to the deaths of black Americans at the hands of law enforcement.

— CONSERVATION BILL CLEARS ONE SENATE HURDLE, BUT MORE REMAIN. Republicans who voted for cloture Monday said they’d be pushing for changes to the measure in the coming days.  

— TRUMP OPEN TO ANOTHER CORONAVIRUS RELIEF PACKAGE. While House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany said the President is open to another round of relief aid yesterday.

— SBA, TREASURY SET TO ISSUE NEW GUIDANCE ON PPP FLEXIBILITY. The agencies will “promptly” issue new rules and guidance, a modified borrower application form, and a modified loan forgiveness application implementing the provisions of H.R. 7010.

Continue reading “TRP Tip Sheet: Democrats Introduce Sweeping Police Reform Bill”

— SENATE QUEUES UP BIPARTISAN PUBLIC LANDS PACKAGE. Senators will pick up legislative business this afternoon to begin consideration of a sweeping public lands bill.

— DEMOCRATS PROPOSING NEW POLICE PROCEDURES, ACCOUNTABILITY. A sweeping overhaul of police oversight and procedures is being proposed Monday by congressional Democrats in response to the deaths of black Americans at the hands of law enforcement. 

— CHINESE TECH GIANTS CAUGHT UP IN RISING US-CHINA TENSIONS. The order seeks to waive certain environmental and permitting requirements to expedite construction of highways and other energy infrastructure projects on federal lands.

— NEW JOBS NUMBERS RENEW GOP CALLS FOR SLIMMED CORONAVIRUS RELIEF EFFORT. Republicans are pushing for a more narrowly-targeted relief package following better-than-expected jobs numbers last week. 

Continue reading “TRP Tip Sheet: Senate Queues Up Bipartisan Public Lands Package”