Where Things Stand on Government Funding
Late yesterday, the three-bill “minibus” containing the Interior-Environment, Energy-Water, and Commerce-Justice-Science (CJS) funding bills cleared its first “test vote” in the Senate by a vote of 80-13. It’s a sign that this measure is on a glidepath to hit the president’s desk ahead of the Jan. 30 funding deadline, though a “time agreement” to speed […]
- May 28, 2019
Today on the Hill: Democrats Continue Push to Clear Disaster Relief Bill
Read MoreWhile most lawmakers are out of town for a Memorial Day district work period, House Democrats will convene an informal “pro forma” session of Congress later this afternoon where they are expected to make another attempt to pass a multi-billion dollar disaster aid package (text; summary) by unanimous consent (UC). Their first attempt last Friday […]
- May 24, 2019
Today on the Hill: Disaster Relief Bill Clears the Senate
Read MoreLate yesterday, Senators broke a monthslong impasse on disaster relief aid by passing (85-8) a $19.1 billion measure prior to leaving Washington. Congressional negotiators clinched a deal on a final package that would provide: (1) $3 billion for farm disaster assistance; (2) $2.4 billion for Community Block Development Grants; and (3) $3.25 billion for Army […]
- May 23, 2019
Today on the Hill: Disaster Relief Deal Remains Elusive
Read MoreThe prospects for a bipartisan disaster aid agreement dwindled late yesterday after negotiators were unable to reach an agreement that would allocate funding to help states recover from recent natural disasters. Despite making progress on disagreements over aid for Puerto Rico and boosting the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund, negotiators have yet to strike a deal […]
- May 22, 2019
Today on the Hill: Democrats Take Aim at CFPB Policies
Read MoreHouse Democrats are set to make an attempt at rolling back “anti-consumer actions” at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). Introduced by Financial Services Chairwoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), the measure (H.R. 1500) would seek to reverse policies implemented by former CFPB Acting Director Mick Mulvaney by: (1) requiring that the Bureau’s consumer complaint data be […]
- May 21, 2019
Today on the Hill: House Moves to Set Up Floor Action on CFPB, Retirement Bills
Read MoreHouse lawmakers will resume legislative business this afternoon, and are set to consider nine suspension bills out of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. This includes: (1) a measure (H.R. 1200) that seeks to boost compensation rates for veterans with service-connected disabilities; (2) a bill (H.R. 2374) that would assess the quality of suicide prevention efforts and […]
- May 20, 2019
This Week on the Hill: Senators Look to Push Disaster Relief Funds Across the Finish Line
Read MoreCongressional lawmakers will reconvene for a legislative business week later this afternoon prior to leaving Washington for a Memorial Day district work period. In the upper chamber, lawmakers will look to break the impasse over disaster relief funding. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) stated last week that the Senate will vote on disaster relief legislation […]
- May 17, 2019
Next Week on the Hill: House to Take Up Bipartisan Retirement Savings Reform Bill
Read MoreCongressional lawmakers will convene for legislative business next week prior to leaving for a Memorial Day district work period. On the House floor, lawmakers will take up a comprehensive, bipartisan retirement savings package (H.R. 1994) that seeks to: (1) boost incentives for retirement savings; (2) allow small businesses to band together and start multi-employer 401(k)s; […]
- May 16, 2019
Today on the Hill: Drug Pricing, ACA Legislative Package Hits House Floor
Read MoreHouse lawmakers will begin consideration of a package (rules committee print) of health care bills aimed at addressing prescription drug pricing and rolling back Trump-era ACA regulations. While a significant portion of the legislation pertaining to drug pricing enjoys bipartisan support — such as provisions that target “pay-for-delay” settlements (H.R. 1499) and generic “parking” (H.R. 938) — the […]
- May 15, 2019
Today on the Hill: Optimism Grows for Disaster Relief Deal
Read MoreSenate GOP leadership expressed optimism about striking a deal to provide funding for states impacted by recent natural disasters, signaling a possible end to the monthslong impasse over the disaster relief funds. Senate Appropriations Chairman Richard Shelby (R-AL) noted yesterday that the prospects for a deal “have improved dramatically,” suggesting that the disagreements over aid […]
- May 14, 2019
Today on the Hill: House to Pass Short-Term Flood Insurance Reauthorization
Read MoreHouse lawmakers will begin their legislative work week later this afternoon, kicking off the week with a full slate of suspension bills. Among the 13 bills up for consideration, lawmakers will likely pass a Financial Services measure (H.R. 2578) that would extend the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) through Sept. 30. The short-term reauthorization for […]
- May 13, 2019
This Week on the Hill: House Democrats Queue up Drug Pricing, ACA Legislative Package
Read MoreKey health care legislation will be on the House floor again this week as Democratic leadership has set up votes on a package (rules committee print) of bills aimed at addressing prescription drug pricing and rolling back Trump-era ACA regulations. While a significant portion of the legislation pertaining to drug pricing enjoys bipartisan support — such as […]
- May 10, 2019
Today on the Hill: House Lawmakers Look to Break Disaster Relief Impasse
Read MoreHouse lawmakers are set to vote on another disaster relief bill (text; summary) in hopes of breaking a months-long impasse over the emergency funds. The latest $17.2 billion offer from House Appropriations Chairwoman Nita Lowey (D-NY) includes additional funding for Army Corps of Engineers projects, Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) assistance, and the Department of […]