The Latest on the Government Shutdown

The Week in Review The 114th Congress closed a week early after both chambers were able to clear a stopgap spending bill (H.R. 2028) and water resources measure (S. 612) that were keeping lawmakers from leaving Washington for the holidays. In the House, the continuing resolution (CR) – which funds the government through April 28 […]

After six years of campaigning to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and over 50 votes held to undercut the law, Republicans in Congress will be ‘shooting with real bullets’ in the 115th Congress – thanks in part to the election of Donald Trump – and will finally be positioned to deliver on their long-held […]

Our Take As the 114th Congress draws to a close, historians may look back to deem it the least productive Congress ever, as it will conclude having been in session for only about 115 days this year.   More frustratingly, despite having a few major legislative victories, it appears that Congress has decide to punt many […]

The legislative text for a continuing resolution (CR) is expected to be released today as Congressional leaders stay on track to break for the year by the end of the week. The stopgap is likely to extend into mid-April in order to provide lawmakers with enough time to consider and approve President-elect Donald Trump’s Cabinet […]

Government funding expires on Friday and lawmakers will spend the week deciding exactly what will be included in a stopgap spending bill that is expected to fund the government through the first few months of Donald Trump’s presidency. According to incoming Appropriations Committee Chairman Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-NJ), the continuing resolution (CR) is likely to have […]

The Week in Review Despite last-second concerns from some senators, the House easily passed the legislative vehicle (H.R. 34) for the 21st Century Cures medical research package on a 392-26 vote last Wednesday. Passage in the lower chamber sets up consideration in the Senate this week, where the bill is expected to pass and be […]

A long-awaited vote on the medical innovation measure known as the 21st Century Cures Act is on the agenda for the lower chamber today. The package, which will be included on an unrelated legislative vehicle (H.R. 34), aims to address opioid addiction, improve mental health programs, make changes to Medicare, and invest significantly in health […]

Legislative action returns to Capitol Hill today as the House and Senate reconvene for the final stretch of the 114th Congress. While spending legislation and a medical innovation package await on the horizon, the House will vote today on a criminal justice bill (S. 2577) that would reauthorize grants for DNA evidence analysis and reduce […]

The Week in Review President-elect Donald Trump announced his choices for three more positions within his administration last week: South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley is to be U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations; Republican donor and school choice activist Betsy DeVos is to be Secretary of Education; and Trump campaign attorney Donald McGahn is to […]

Our Take Donald Trump’s surprise victory on November 8th shifted many of the conventional wisdom's held by pundits and the expectations for the 2017 agenda.  Clearly the new administration will have a more deregulatory bend.  Currently the Trump team continues to work through its transition planning – including who will be nominated for critical posts […]

The Week in Review Congress returned to Washington last week for the first time since Donald Trump was elected to be the 45th President of the United States earlier this month, which has drastically altered the political landscape and expectations for the lame duck session. Lawmakers had been planning on completing fiscal 2017 spending negotiations […]

After passing bills related to aircraft sales to Iran (H.R. 5711) and midnight rules (H.R. 5982), the lower chamber departed Washington for the Thanksgiving holiday next week. The Senate will hold a pro forma session today and no votes are expected in the chamber until after the Thanksgiving holiday. Both chambers will return to Washington […]