This week in Washington: CMS develops additional code for coronavirus lab tests, announces actions to address spread of coronavirus; House passes bill to ban e-cigarette flavors; Grassley says updated Senate Finance drug pricing bill saves $80 billion.
House Passes Bill to Ban E-Cigarette Flavors, Expand Tobacco User Fees
On Feb. 28, the House passed
FY21 BudgetSenior administration officials will continue to make the rounds on Capitol Hill next week to answer questions from lawmakers on the FY21 budget. The FY21 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) process is also moving forward, with the House Armed Services Committee looking towards a late April markup. The Senate will also continue consideration
American Energy Innovation ActThe House and Senate were both in session this week. The Senate took up S.2657, the American Energy Innovation Act (AEIA), a package of more than 50 energy-related bills reported by the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee in 2019. On Wednesday, the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Terrorism held
Hearings/MarkupsSenate Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies: “Review of the FY2021 Budget Request for HHS”
Tuesday, February 25, 2020: The Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies of the Senate Committee on Appropriations held a hearing to discuss HHS’s budget request for
With the FY21 appropriations process officially underway, Cabinet secretaries and other senior administration officials will continue to make the rounds before congressional committees of jurisdiction over the coming weeks to testify in support of the President’s budget request. The House Appropriations Committee is planning to begin subcommittee markups on April 21, followed by
Republican and Democratic RetreatsCongress was in session this week, though the Senate recessed for Republican and Democratic retreats on Wednesday and Thursday.
House Judiciary Antitrust Subcommittee Chairman David Cicilline (D-RI) is planning to introduce legislation to reform Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act to make platforms liable for running “demonstrably false”
Twelve Republican Senators Support Grassley-Wyden Drug Pricing Bill
As of Feb. 18, Senate Finance Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Ranking Member Ron Wyden’s (D-OR) bipartisan drug pricing legislation now has 12 Republican senators in support of the plan. Sen. Grassley said he needs support from at least 25 Republican senators to convince Senate Majority
The State of Education in WashingtonPresident Trump released his $4.8 trillion budget proposal for FY 2021 spending last week. The president’s budget aims to cut non-defense spending, including funding for the U.S. Department of Education. President Trump requested $66.6 billion for the Department of Education for FY 2021, which represents a $5.6 billion, or
Hearings/MarkupsHouse Education and Labor Committee: “Markup: H.R. 5800, Ban Surprise Billing Act”
Tuesday, February 11, 2020: The House Education and Labor Committee held a markup for:
Find more details on the hearing here.
Why this is important: The committee approved H.R. 5800, 32-13, to end surprise medical
The House and Senate will be in recess next week coinciding with Presidents’ Day.
On February 19, the Department of Justice will hold a workshop on Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act titled “Section 230 – Nurturing Innovation or Fostering Unaccountability?.”