Pressure is mounting on Republican and Democratic negotiators in the US Capitol to reach an agreement on a COVID-19 response package that can pass both chambers of a divided Congress and be signed into law by President Donald Trump in the coming days. But evidence persists that the March 27 enactment of the massive CARES … Continue Reading
The US Congress has returned to Washington, DC, and bipartisan negotiations to produce the next significant federal coronavirus response legislation have officially begun. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, representing President Donald Trump, are scheduled to meet this afternoon on Capitol Hill with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and … Continue Reading
The Trump Administration appears divided on the question of what President Donald Trump’s priorities will be for the next significant federal COVID-19 response package. The Washington Post reports the president supports providing another round of “stimulus” payments to a broad range of US households to support growth by putting money directly into the hands of … Continue Reading
President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans are being pressured by anti-establishment organizations to provide no further federal spending in response to the coronavirus. But the president and his team appear poised to move in the opposite direction, having recently revealed plans to put forth a US$1 trillion national infrastructure spending blueprint in the coming days … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity House Approves Joint Resolution to Repeal the FCC’s Broadband Privacy Rules, Sending the Measure to the President On March 28, the U.S. House of Representatives approved the Congressional Review Act (CRA) joint resolution (S.J. Res. 34) passed by the Senate last week to repeal the broadband privacy rules adopted by the Federal Communications … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity The AHCA: On to Rules Committee and House Floor The American Health Care Act (AHCA) continues to make its way through the legislative process. After surviving markups in the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, the House Committee on Ways and Means, and the House Committee on the Budget, it is time for … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity Potential Energy Legislation After the House proposed a narrow version of the energy bill to the Senate, Senate Energy and Natural Resources Chairman Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) proposed a broader bill once again. After a meeting last week with House Natural Resources Chairman Rob Bishop (R-UT), Chairman Murkowski appeared confident she will get a … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity Senate Passes WRDA Bill with Funding for Flint Last week, the Senate passed its version of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) (S. 2848) by a vote of 95-3. The $10.6 billion bill would authorize projects to be carried out by the Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to address navigation, flood protection and … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity Bipartisan Health Legislation to be Considered on House Floor House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy released a full legislative schedule for the week of September 19, which includes votes on various health priorities. The legislation being considered includes H.R. 670, Special Needs Trust Fairness and Medicaid Improvement Act; H.R. 5713, Sustaining Healthcare Integrity and … Continue Reading
Legislative Action Comprehensive Energy Bill Conferees met on last week on Thursday for the opening session to consider energy legislation, S. 2012, the North American Energy Security and Infrastructure Act of 2016. If passed, the bill would be the first piece of comprehensive energy legislation to emerge from Congress in almost a decade. The mood … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity House Committee on Energy and Commerce to Advance 12 Bills Addressing the Opioid Epidemic The House Committee on Energy and Commerce announced the committee will consider 22 bills April 26 and April 27, including 12 bills focused on combatting the opioid crisis that passed the Subcommittee on Health last week. The health bills … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity House to Consider 21st Century Cures Act Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) has announced that the House of Representatives will consider H.R. 6, the 21st Century Cures Act, this week. The House Committee on Rules will meet to consider the rules for the debate on Wednesday, July 8. Amendments to the legislation are … Continue Reading