Budget DealOn Monday evening, the White House and congressional leaders announced a two-year budget deal that also suspends the debt limit until July 31, 2021. The Bipartisan Budget Agreement Act increases FY20 non-defense spending by $24.5 billion to $621.5 billion with an extra $2.5 billion adjustment for the census. It also increases FY20 defense
Provided conversations between Treasury Secretary Mnuchin and Speaker Pelosi (D-CA) continue towards a two-year deal to raise budget caps and the debt limit, both Chambers can be expected to vote next week to avoid hitting the ceiling during the August recess.
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Debt CeilingThe House and Senate are both in session this week as the August recess approaches and Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin continue to negotiate a path towards raising the debt ceiling, which Mnuchin is urging Congress to do before leaving Washington for the summer. Mnuchin said this morning that
Federal Updates
Minimum Wage, Intelligence Reauthorization and Healthcare BillsToday, the House will vote to renew the 9/11 Victims Compensation Fund. Next week, the House plans to vote on legislation to raise the minimum wage to $15 and on a three-year intelligence reauthorization, with healthcare bills on the agenda for the week of July 22. House leadership
NASA Space Exploration PlansReturning to Washington after the July 4 recess with just a handful of legislative days remaining before the August recess, the Senate spent the balance of the week on judicial and executive branch nominations. In the meantime, the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Subcommittee on Aviation held a hearing on NASA’s
September 30 Budget DeadlineThe House and Senate return to Washington next week with just six work weeks until government funding expires on September 30. In addition to government funding, the chambers must also address National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) reauthorization, Export-Import Bank reauthorization, and budget caps by the September 30 deadline. While the House
President Trump returned Monday from the G-20 Summit in Osaka, Japan. During the trip, President Trump met with Chinese President Xi Jinping, after which the leaders announced plans to resume previously stalled trade negotiations. In exchange, President Trump pledged to withhold tariff escalation and announced that Xi agreed to resume purchases of American
Today, the Senate will debate U.S. policy towards Iran pursuant to a deal that secured a final vote on the NDAA. The House and Senate are scheduled to recess next week for the 4th of July. Looking ahead, the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs and House Financial Services Committees will convene
Emergency Appropriations for the BorderThe House voted 230-195 on Tuesday to pass a $4.5 emergency supplemental appropriations bill for the border after Democratic leadership added provisions to secure support from the Congressional Hispanic and Progressive Caucuses. On Wednesday, the Senate rejected the House-passed measure 37-55 before passing its own $4.6 billion bill 84-8. Leadership