Senators will meet for legislative business today, eyeing passage of the Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors (CHIPS) for America Act. The final vote on the bill, which includes funding and incentives to spur domestic semiconductor production, is expected to occur in the middle of the week absent a “time agreement” to expedite the process. Once the bill clears the Senate, House lawmakers are expected to move on the CHIPS legislation quickly next week for a vote to send it to President Biden’s desk before the August break. Meanwhile, House Democratic leadership has been pushing to shore up support among the caucus amid criticism from progressive lawmakers over the semiconductor subsidies. Should there be defections among progressives, Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) will likely need the help of GOP lawmakers to ensure that the bill gets across the finish line.
Month: July 2022
Health Policy Report (7/18)
Senate Democrats are zeroing in on a health-focused reconciliation effort after Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) expressed opposition to climate and tax-related policies within the filibuster-proof bill. In a statement on Friday, President Joe Biden endorsed the strategy that would couple policies from the latest Senate drug pricing title with an extension of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) premium subsides. Process wise, the health care language still needs to go through the “Byrd bath” process with the Senate Parliamentarian to ensure compliance with the chamber’s reconciliation rules. Once this arcane process is complete, Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) will likely move to get the updated reconciliation bill on the floor as soon as possible and vote to send it to the House before August recess.
Continue reading “Health Policy Report (7/18)”Health Policy Report (7/11)
Senate Democrats are bracing for a busy July work period as leadership presses forward on a revival of the budget reconciliation process. After releasing an updated version of the drug pricing title last week, additional pieces of the new filibuster-proof bill are expected to be released in the coming days and weeks ahead so that the Parliamentarian can begin the “Byrd bath” review to ensure compliance with the Senate’s budgetary rules. These policies include tax hikes on high-income earners to shore up the solvency of Medicare and extending the Affordable Care Act (ACA) premium subsidies, as well as other climate, energy, and tax proposals. According to intel from Capitol Hill, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) is hopeful to get the updated bill on the floor ahead of the August break. However, it remains to be seen whether the deal can garner the support of the entire Democratic caucus in both chambers.
Continue reading “Health Policy Report (7/11)”Health Policy Report (7/5)
Both chambers of Congress have adjourned for the Independence Day state work period, and will return next week. The Senate returns first on Monday, July 11, followed by the House on Tuesday, July 12. ‘
Continue reading “Health Policy Report (7/5)”