Today on the Hill: Shelby Indicates Spending Negotiations Remain Sluggish

Despite resetting the government funding deadline to provide more time for negotiations, House and Senate appropriators have indicated that fiscal year (FY) 2020 spending talks remain deadlocked. Senate Appropriations Chairman Richard Shelby (R-AL) stated yesterday that lawmakers may need to take up another stopgap funding measure to keep the government funded through the remainder of the year if an agreement isn’t reached before the Nov. 21 deadline. While Chairman Shelby and House Appropriations Chairwoman Nita Lowey (D-NY) have both expressed the desire to move spending bills through regular order, “poison pill” issues such as border security and family planning policies could stymie the appropriations process for the foreseeable future.

On the floor, House lawmakers will take up a bipartisan, bicameral resolution aimed at rebuking President Donald Trump’s withdrawal of U.S. forces from northern Syria. In addition to the resolution, the lower chamber will consider 15 suspension bills out of the Committee on Oversight and Reform. Meanwhile, the Senate will resume consideration of pending presidential nominations. This includes a final confirmation vote on Barbara McConnell Barrett’s nomination to be Secretary of the Air Force.