Hearings/MarkupsSenate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee: “Examining the Response to Lung Illnesses and Rising Youth Electronic Cigarette Use”
Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2019: The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee held a hearing to examine the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) response to
Discussions to Avert a Government Shutdown OngoingThe House and Senate returned to Washington on Tuesday after the Veterans’ Day holiday. Senator Richard Shelby (R-AL) and Rep. Nita Lowey (D-NY), who chair the Appropriations Committees, met on Tuesday to discuss a deal to avert a government shutdown when the current continuing resolution (CR) expires on
Hearings/MarkupsSenate Special Committee on Aging: “Veteran Scams: Protecting Those Who Protected Us”
Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2019: The Senate Special Committee on Aging held a hearing on protecting veterans from a variety of scams, including fake charities. As a result of the witness testimonies, a letter was sent to Secretary of the Department of Veterans
FY20 Spending MeasuresWith government spending authorities scheduled to expire on November 21, bipartisan, bicameral Appropriations Committee leadership will meet next week to chart a path for FY20 spending measures, including another likely continuing resolution through mid to late December. The White House said this week that the President would support such an extension.
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
Hearings/MarkupsSenate Committee on Finance: “Medicaid: Compliance with Eligibility Requirements”
Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2019: The Senate Committee on Finance, Subcommittee on Health held a hearing on eligibility requirements under the Medicaid program. This hearing foreshadows action that is expected to be taken by the administration soon related to states’ ensuring Medicaid recipients are eligible for
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
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
HearingsHouse Energy and Commerce Committee: “Sabotage: The Trump Administration’s Attack on Health Care”
Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2019: The Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations of the Committee on Energy and Commerce held to seek clarity on the Trump administration’s health care policy choices. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) Administrator Seema Verma testified at
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.
With the three committees of jurisdiction having advanced House Democratic leadership’s prescription drug pricing bill – The Lower Drug Costs Now Act –