House lawmakers will meet today for consideration of a six-bill spending package ahead of Friday’s government funding deadline. This first “minibus” — which contains the spending measures for Agriculture-FDA, Commerce-Justice-Science, Energy-Water Development, Interior-Environment, Military Construction-VA, and Transportation-HUD — is expected to pass under suspension of the rules today with support on both sides of the aisle. Following consideration of this first tranche of bills in both chambers, lawmakers will immediately turn to funding for the remaining bills — Defense, Financial Services and General Government (FSGG), Homeland Security, Labor-HHS-Education, Legislative Branch, and State-Foreign Operations — which runs through March 22.
Month: March 2024
The Latest on the Senate GOP Leadership Race
The race to replace Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) is beginning to take shape ahead of the highly-anticipated November 2024 leadership elections. Notably, Senate GOP Whip John Thune (R-SD) said yesterday that he “hopes” to be elevated to the position of GOP Leader in the fall, joining former Senate GOP Whip John Cornyn (R-TX) in the race to replace Leader McConnell. Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) is also reportedly gearing up for another bid to lead the Senate GOP Conference, and an announcement could come as soon as this week. Meanwhile, Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY), the Senate GOP’s third-ranking official and Ranking Member of the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, is set to pass on a bd for GOP leader and instead run for Republican Whip.
— CONGRESS GAVELS BACK IN TODAY. The House and Senate will be back in action today as lawmakers look to quickly pass a six-bill “minibus” spending package ahead of Friday’s first government funding deadline. Consideration of the funding package is currently slated to take place first in the House under suspension of the rules tomorrow, followed by the Senate at some point prior to the deadline. For today, the House will consider 14 bills under suspension of the rules, largely out of the Energy and Commerce (E&C) and Homeland Security Committees. This includes a bill that would reauthorize the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), as well as a measure that would issue new reporting requirements on cybersecurity threats to the 988 Suicide and Crisis lifeline. Meanwhile, the Senate will resume consideration of pending presidential nominations, starting with Ronald Keohane’s nomination to be an Assistant Secretary of Defense.
Congress Readies Six-Bill Spending Package
Congressional leadership has unveiled legislative text of a six-bill “minibus” spending package for consideration this week as lawmakers look to clear the decks on fiscal year (FY) 2024 appropriations this month. The spending package contains the funding measures for Agriculture-FDA, Commerce-Justice-Science, Energy-Water Development, Interior-Environment, Military Construction-VA, and Transportation-HUD, as funding for this tranche expires Friday at midnight. Funding for the remaining bills — Defense, Financial Services and General Government (FSGG), Homeland Security, Labor-HHS-Education, Legislative Branch, and State-Foreign Operations — will run through March 22 under the terms of the continuing resolution (CR) that was enacted late last week. Materials for the “minibus,” including text, summaries, and Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) projects, can be viewed here.