Author: Thornrun

Lawmakers will return to Washington this week to begin an end-of-the-year legislative blitz. Funding the government for fiscal year (FY) 2020 will be the top priority for the December work session after House Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Nita Lowey (D-NY) and Senate Appropriations Chairman Richard Shelby (R-AL) reportedly struck an agreement on funding allocations for each of the 12 spending bills earlier last week. In addition to appropriations, big-ticket legislative priorities such as the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, prescription drug pricing, and tax extenders could also see movement before the end of this year.

Continue reading “This Week on the Hill: Lawmakers Kick Off Year-End Legislative Sprint”

Lawmakers have left Washington for the Thanksgiving district work period following enactment of a one-month continuing resolution that will fund the government through Dec. 20. Fiscal year (FY) 2020 negotiations are expected to continue over the Thanksgiving break, as both House Appropriations Chairwoman Nita Lowey (D-NY) and Senate Appropriations Chairman Richard Shelby (R-AL) have offered guarded optimism about striking a deal on subcommittee allocations for each of the 12 spending measures. However, lingering disagreements pertaining to President Donald Trump’s border wall priority — namely over funding allocations and his authority to transfer funds to the project — remain a key wildcard in the process.

Continue reading “Next Week on the Hill: Government Funded Through Dec. 20 As Congress Adjourns for Thanksgiving Break”

Congress is set to close out the November legislative session today amid a looming government funding deadline. Despite a push to pass the continuing resolution (CR) yesterday, Senators will look to pass the stopgap funding bill this morning in order to place the bill on President Donald Trump’s desk for a signature ahead of the midnight deadline. In addition to the CR, the Senate will resume consideration of Dan Brouillette’s nomination to be Secretary of Energy.

Continue reading “Today on the Hill: Senate Looks to Clinch Short-Term Funding Package”

The House will reconvene for legislative business today at noon following its passage (231-192) of a stopgap funding measure that would avert a government shutdown yesterday. On the floor, House lawmakers have queued up nine suspension bills out of the Natural Resources Committee. This includes a measure that would direct the Department of Interior to conduct a special resource study in portions of the Los Angeles coastal area to evaluate alternatives for protecting resources of that area, as well as legislation that would extend funding for approved wetlands conservation projects under the North American Wetlands Conservation Act though fiscal year (FY) 2024. The lower chamber will also consider a rule that will govern debate on an Education and Labor bill that seeks to address workplace violence in the health care and social services sectors.

Continue reading “Today on the Hill: Senate Eyes Action on Government Funding Ahead of Thanksgiving Recess”

The House will reconvene for legislative business today eyeing action on Thursday's government funding deadline. Members will vote on a highly anticipated continuing resolution (CR) that would avert a funding lapse and create a new deadline of Friday, Dec. 20. In addition to a pay raise for the military and a funding boost for the Census Bureau, the bill addresses several expiring Medicare, Medicaid, and public health programs, and kills a $7.6 billion cut in federal transit funding. Additionally, the lower chamber will vote on a Financial Services suspension bill that would require public companies to disclose annually information on the racial, ethnic, gender, and veteran composition of their boards of directors. 

Continue reading “Today on the Hill: House Set to Pass CR”

Both chambers of Congress will return to action later this afternoon as the government funding deadline approaches. Action a continuing resolution (CR) that would fund the government through Dec. 20 is expected in both chambers early this week as lawmakers look to avert a funding lapse ahead of Thursday’s deadline. As negotiations for FY 2020 spending continue, early indications are that the spending bill for Energy-Water will likely move first during this end-of-the-year funding blitz.

Continue reading “This Week on the Hill: Lawmakers Look to Punt Funding Deadline to December”