The House was in recess this week. The Senate resumed legislative business on Tuesday and spent the bulk of the week on pending nominations. Rep. Pete Visclosky (D-IN), who chairs the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, announced this week that he will retire. The Appropriations Chairwoman, Rep. Nita Lowey (D-NY), previously announced that she would not seek reelection. Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act Last Friday, Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) sent a letter to…

Negotiations Continue on Government Spending Authority The House is in recess next week. The Senate will be in session with just a few legislative days remaining before government spending authority is set to expire on November 21. Aside from continuing to negotiate a deal to avert a shutdown, lawmakers will likely soon take up a pared down version of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that does not address controversial issues like PFAS chemicals. USMCA…

FY20 Spending Levels As the House and Senate continue to negotiate FY20 spending levels, the Senate spent most of the week on the first appropriations bills to reach the floor in a package that includes the Commerce-Justice-Science, Agriculture, Interior, and Transportation-Housing and Urban Development bills. After dispensing with several amendments, the Senate voted 84-9 this afternoon to adopt the package before turning to a second package that includes the Labor-HHS-Education, Defense, State-Foreign Operations, and Energy-Water…

FY21 Spending Measures Appropriations leadership will focus on FY21 spending measures, and potentially another continuing resolution, over the coming weeks to avert a government shutdown on November 21. Prescription Drug Pricing Bill With the three committees of jurisdiction having advanced House Democratic leadership’s prescription drug pricing bill – The Lower Drug Costs Now Act – Majority Leader Hoyer (D-MD) will prioritize bringing the legislation to the floor. The vote will slip until next month, however,…

Continuing Resolution With the current continuing resolution set to expire on November 21, Senate Majority Leader McConnell (R-KY) took procedural steps this week to bring packages of FY21 appropriations measures to the floor. The House has passed almost all of its bills, though notably has not acted on its Homeland Security measure. Elsewhere, the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee held a hearing yesterday on reauthorizing the Satellite Television Extension and Localism Act (STELAR), which…

Congress Returns Congress returned to Washington this week following a two-week recess and Monday’s federal holiday. Lawmakers are mourning the loss of House Oversight and Reform Committee Chairman Elijah Cummings (D-MD), who passed away this morning. Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) becomes Acting Committee Chair. Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) also announced that the House Democratic drug pricing legislation considered this week in three committees of jurisdiction will be named for Cummings. Joint Hearing on Section 230…

NDAA, FY20 Government Spending When lawmakers return to Washington next week, National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) conferees will aim to bring a final package up for floor votes in each chamber by mid-October. Facing a November 21 deadline, Congressional leaders and the White House will also resume discussions around FY20 government spending. Communications Decency Act – Section 230 Two House Energy and Commerce subcommittees will hold a joint hearing next Wednesday on Section 230 of…