The House and Senate are adjourned until after the November 4 elections. Following the midterms, lawmakers are expected to return for two weeks before breaking for the Thanksgiving holiday. Congress is likely to also be in session through December, when work will continue on appropriations, expired tax provisions and curbing corporate inversions. Other issues that could be considered during the lame-duck session include defense and intelligence operations reauthorizations, terrorism risk insurance (TRIA) reauthorization as well as bills related to commerce, sanctions and trade.
Author: Thornrun
TRP Health Policy Report
The House and Senate are adjourned until November 12. Despite the break, last week saw the House Energy and Commerce Oversight Subcommittee convene a rare recess hearing with CDC Director Dr. Thomas Frieden, to review how federal agencies are responding to the Ebola outbreak in the United States. Lawmakers in both parties slammed the Obama Administration's response thus far, calling for significant improvements to stop the virus's spread in Dallas and elsewhere. Republicans also pressed the Administration to adopt travel restrictions from West Africa, an idea that Frieden and other health officials have tried to discourage. Congressional focus continues on Ebola this week, with the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee set to hold a hearing on the Administration’s response to the Ebola outbreak.
TRP Health Policy Report
The House and Senate are adjourned until after the November 4 elections. Following the midterms, members of the House and Senate are expected to return for two weeks before breaking for the Thanksgiving holiday. Congress should next be in session through December, when work will continue on appropriations, expired tax provisions and curbing corporate inversions. Other issues that could be considered during the lame-duck session include defense and intelligence operations reauthorizations, terrorism risk insurance (TRIA) reauthorization as well as bills related to commerce, sanctions and trade. Healthcare-related items could also theoretically be on the agenda, including a permanent fix of Medicare's sustainable growth-rate formula (SGR) and an extension of funding for the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
TRP Health Policy Report
The House and Senate are adjourned until after the November 4 elections. Following the midterms, members of the House and Senate are expected to return for two weeks before breaking for the Thanksgiving holiday. Congress should next be in session through December, when work will continue on appropriations, expired tax provisions and curbing corporate inversions. Other issues that could be considered during the lame-duck session include defense and intelligence operations reauthorizations, terrorism risk insurance (TRIA) reauthorization as well as bills related to commerce, sanctions and trade.
TRP Health Policy Report
The House and Senate are adjourned until after the November 4 elections. Following the midterm elections, members of Congress are expected to return for two weeks before breaking for the Thanksgiving holiday. Lawmakers should next be in session through December, when work will continue on appropriations, expired tax provisions and curbing corporate inversions. Other issues that could be considered during the lame-duck session include defense and intelligence operations reauthorizations, terrorism risk insurance (TRIA) reauthorization as well as bills related to commerce, sanctions and trade.
TRP Clean Energy Report
After just eight days in session following a five-week summer recess, the House and Senate have adjourned until after the midterm elections. Last Thursday, the Senate voted 78-22 to approve a continuing resolution (H.J. Res. 124) that funds the government through December 11, and gives the Obama Administration the authority to equip and train Syrian rebels in their battle against the Islamic State. The House passed the stop-gap funding bill last Wednesday in a 319-108 vote. The CR continues base agency funding at the fiscal 2014 rate of $1.012 trillion. Among its provisions, the measure extends a moratorium on taxing Internet access, and extends authority for the Export-Import Bank through June 30. Lawmakers resorted to a short-term spending bill after both chambers failed to pass all 12 individual appropriations measures. The House passed seven fiscal 2015 spending bills, but the Senate did not approve any.
TRP Health Policy Report
Last week saw lawmakers wrap up work on a series of ‘must-pass’ issues before adjourning until after the midterm elections. On Thursday, the Senate voted 78-22 to approve a continuing resolution (H.J. Res. 124) that funds the government through December 11, and gives the Obama Administration the authority to equip and train Syrian rebels in their battle against the Islamic State. The House passed the stop-gap funding bill last Wednesday in a 319-108 vote. The CR continues base agency funding at the fiscal 2014 rate of $1.012 trillion. Among its provisions, the measure extends a moratorium on taxing Internet access and extends authority for the Export-Import Bank through June 30. Lawmakers resorted to a short-term spending bill after both chambers failed to pass all 12 individual appropriations measures. The House passed seven fiscal 2015 spending bills, but the Senate did not approve any.
TRP Financial Services Report
Once again the smell of jet fumes and the need to get home to campaign overrode other political considerations as both the House and Senate wrapped up their work in DC by passing a continuing resolution that funds the government through December 11th. When they come back there is a fairly good chance that we will have found out whether the Republicans have taken back the Senate or whether the Democrats were able to hold onto their majority. Of course with both Louisiana and Georgia requiring run-offs for elections that result in no candidate obtaining more than 50% of the vote, it is also possible that the question may not be answered until next year. If that is the case we can certainly expect the lamest of all lame ducks . Even if everything is settled come November 5th it is still likely that we will see an abbreviated lame duck, although Leader Reid has announced an ambitious agenda that indicates at least he believes that the post-election environment will break the grid lock that has plagued Congress this year.
In Politico, TRP’s Jason Rosenstock Weighs In on Ex-Im Negotiations
In today's edition of Politico Morning Money, Thorn Run's Jason Rosenstock weighs in on this week's congressional negotiations over the future of the Export Import bank. While some Republicans have opposed extension of the Ex-Im bank—arguing that such financing could be facilitated by the private sector—many House Democrats have emphasized demands for a longer extension than the June 2015 date including in the draft CR released last week. Rosenstock notes that "House leadership trying to balance the conservative elements of their party, some of whom have already come half-way on a short term extension, with the hardline position of House Democrats who realize that this may be their best opportunity to secure a multi-year extension of the bank.”
Continue reading “In Politico, TRP’s Jason Rosenstock Weighs In on Ex-Im Negotiations”
TRP Health Policy Report
Last week saw both chambers of Congress return to legislative work following their summer recess. On Thursday, Senate Republicans blocked a Democratic proposal (S.J. Res. 19) to amend the U.S. Constitution to place limits on campaign financing. Democrats needed 60 votes to end debate on the measure, but fell short in a 54-42 party-line vote. Republicans said the vote was a political stunt by Democrats ahead of the midterm elections. Last Wednesday, the Senate voted 73-25 to end debate on the motion to proceed to the Paycheck Fairness Act (S. 2199), which aims to ensure pay equity for women. In other activity, the Senate approved two executive branch nominations and legislation (S. 2154) to extend health service programs for children. The Senate also passed a bill (S. 2323) to gives fathers of veterans with disabilities preference for federal employment purposes. Both measures were approved by unanimous consent.