LEGISLATIVE ACTIVITY Debt Ceiling The FY 2014 Continuing Resolution enacted in October (P.L. 113-46) suspended the debt ceiling through February 7. While this deadline can typically be extended for a length of time through accounting techniques known as “extraordinary measures”, Treasury Secretary Jack Lew is urging Congress to address an increase in the debt ceiling … Continue Reading
LEGISLATIVE ACTIVITY House Approves Ryan-Murray Budget Agreement On Thursday, December 12, the House passed the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013 (H.J. Res. 59) by a vote of 332-94. A total of 62 Republicans and 32 Democrats voted against the two-year budget agreement put together by Budget Conference Committee leaders Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) and Sen. … Continue Reading
LEGISLATIVE ACTIVITY Budget Breakthrough? Forgoing formal conference negotiations, in recent weeks the leaders of the Budget Conference Committee – Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) and Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) – have taken it upon themselves to forge a limited budget agreement and appear to be close to a deal that would increase FY 2014 and FY … Continue Reading
LEGISLATIVE ACTIVITY Budget Conference Committee The Budget Conference Committee held its first meeting last Wednesday, October 30, during which member statements stressed the importance of agreement, yet highlighted their deep differences over spending and taxes. With House members back in their districts this week and the Senate scheduled to be out of session the … Continue Reading
LEGISLATIVE ACTIVITY On October 17, President Barack Obama signed a FY 2014 Continuing Resolution / Debt Ceiling stopgap agreement (H.R. 2775 / P.L. 113-46) that funds the federal government at current sequester levels through January 15, 2014 and suspends the nation’s debt limit through February 7, 2014 (although this may be extended for a short … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity This past week has seen the evolution of the federal government shutdown and the slow emergence of a potential framework for a deal. Late in the week, President Barack Obama met separately with Senate Democrats, Senate Republicans, House Democrats and House Republicans. While President Obama continues to maintain he will not negotiate on … Continue Reading
LEGISLATIVE ACTIVITY WRRDA Reauthorization On Thursday, September 19, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee marked up and approved H.R. 3080, the Water Resources Reform and Development Act of 2013 (WRRDA). WRRDA was introduced as a bi-partisan measure by Chairman Bill Shuster (R-PA), Ranking Member Nick Rahall (D-WV), Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee Chairman Bob Gibbs … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity Student Loan Interest Rates A bipartisan group of senators, led Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), announced another agreement on student loan interest rates last week. The deal, which represents a new scheme that shifts to market-driven variable interest rates, was announced after Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA) ultimately agreed to support it. According to reports, … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity Farm Bill On July 18, the Senate accepted a unanimous consent resolution that formally requested the Senate to move to conference on the Farm Bill. In sending the Farm Bill to the House, the Senate had to place its text into the shell of the House-passed bill, which the House sent to the … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity Budget and Appropriations The House approved its version of FY 2014 Homeland Security appropriations on June 6, but the Senate is just beginning the appropriations process. Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) has announced that the Homeland Security Subcommittee 302(b) allocation for FY 2014 will be $39.1 billion (plus $227 billion for … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity Budget and Appropriations Last Thursday, June 6 the House approved the FY 2014 Homeland Security appropriations bill by a vote of 245-182, which provides $38.9 billion in discretionary funding to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Both Republican and Democrat amendments successfully transferred funds from the Office of the Undersecretary for Management … Continue Reading
LEGISLATIVE ACTIVITY Action on FY 2014 Appropriations Bills. Last week the House passed its first FY 2014 appropriations bills – Military Construction-Veterans Affairs (H.R. 2216) and Homeland Security (H.R. 2217). Even before the bills were brought to the floor, the White House threatened to veto both, citing its disagreement with the topline discretionary spending cap … Continue Reading
