Where Things Stand on Government Funding

Congressional leaders and President Donald Trump have struck a compromise budget deal (text; summary) that would address pressing deadlines for the federal debt ceiling and budgetary spending caps. The deal provides for a $321 billion boost in federal spending over the next two years, with $738 billion for defense spending and $632 billion for non-defense in fiscal […]

White House and Congressional leaders are still working to finalize details of a sweeping budget deal that would address the debt ceiling and budgetary spending caps. Reports suggest that both sides are zeroing in on a deal that would include spending offsets that total less than the administration’s $150 billion demand, as well as a […]

Congress has adjourned for the week as negotiations on a sweeping budget deal continue behind the scenes. Despite reaching a general agreement on the framework for the deal, talks are still ongoing over specific numbers, offsets, and structural issues. Late yesterday, the White House gave House Democrats an extended list of $574 billion in offset […]

House lawmakers will reconvene this morning to begin a busy day of legislative business. In addition to legislation authorizing appropriations for U.S. intelligence operations and a resolution holding key administration officials in contempt of Congress, Democratic leadership has queued up a bipartisan bill that would repeal the Affordable Care Act's (ACA) so-called "Cadillac” tax. Designed to curb incentives […]

The White House and Congressional leaders are continuing negotiations on a sweeping budget deal that would address budgetary spending caps, the debt ceiling, and fiscal year (FY) 2020 appropriations. Despite indications of progress from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, the dwindling summer floor time — coupled with the slow pace […]

Both chambers of Congress will return to action this afternoon. When the House gavels in first, lawmakers will begin consideration of 14 suspension bills out of the Foreign Affairs and Small Business Committees. This includes: (1) a measure amending the Small Business Act to require cyber certification for small business development center counselors; (2) legislation […]

House lawmakers are set to dive into a second day of work on the lower chamber’s version of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). As of yesterday, over 100 amendments have been adopted to the $733 billion bill as progressives seek to tack on their big-ticket measures that would: (1) restrict the use of military […]

Lawmakers will begin work on the House version of the fiscal year (FY) 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), starting with the rule to govern debate on the measure. The rule would make in order 439 amendments for floor consideration, suggesting that work on the $733 billion measure could extend late into the week. With House […]

The House will return to action later this afternoon as lawmakers will look to clear seven Financial Services bills under suspension of the rules. This includes a resolution that encourages the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to collaborate with state securities regulators in efforts to protect investors, as well as a legislation requiring the Department […]

Congress returns to action this week to begin a three-week legislative session prior to leaving for the August recess. The limited floor time in July is stirring up angst among lawmakers as both chambers remain far apart on addressing key fiscal deadlines pertaining to budgetary spending caps, appropriations, and the debt ceiling. Negotiations between top […]

The Senate reconvened early this morning following passage (86-8) of its version of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The upper chamber used an unusual procedure to pass the $750 billion bill, allowing for a vote on a Democratic amendment that would restrict military authorization against Iran that would be retroactively added to the measure […]

House lawmakers are set to pick up amendment debate on the fiscal year (FY) 2020 spending bill for Financial Services and General Government (FSGG) this afternoon. Thus far, the House has debated 10 out of the 46 amendments that have been made in order, approving a measure that would prevent the relocation of two U.S. […]