This Week on the Hill: Senate Looks to Clinch Short-Term Funding Deal

Congress is set to close out the September legislative work session this week as Senators look to clinch a deal on a stopgap funding resolution. At some point later this week, the Senate is expected to take action on a continuing resolution (CR) that would punt the government funding deadline beyond Sept. 30. However, it remains to be seen if Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) will call up the House-passed CR or if the Senate offers its own version — leaving the fate of the dozens of policy riders that have been tacked on to the lower chamber’s bill up in the air. Off the floor, the Senate Appropriations Committee will meet to consider the fiscal year (FY) 2020 spending bills for Interior-Environment, Commerce-Science-Justice, and the Legislative Branch.

In the House, Democrats are expected to call up groundbreaking legislation that would open up banking to cannabis companies this week. In a move aimed at appeasing Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Banking Committee Chairman Mike Crapo (R-ID), House Democrats tacked on provisions to the Secure And Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act that would prevent a revival of the Obama-era program known as "Operation Choke Point," and clarify that institutions doing business with hemp companies will not face scrutiny under federal law in hopes of getting the bill through the upper chamber. Additionally, House lawmakers are also expected to consider a pair of Homeland Security measures aimed at reforming policies pertaining to U.S.-Mexico border security.