House cleared major bills this week…
finishing up their work for the 114th Congress. Senate passed annual defense policy bill and massive medical cures legislation, sending both to the White House. House passed CR to fund the government through April 2017, now it’s up to the Senate to pass CR by midnight tonight to avoid government shutdown. Trump administration announced six nominees that require Senate approval as nominees headed to the Hill to meet with relevant senators. House passed water infrastructure bill, sending WRDA legislation to the Senate for approval.
NDAA | Government Funding | Medical Cures | Cabinet Selections | WRDA | ICYMI
Senate passed annual defense policy bill,
Now it's off to the White House
The NDAA for fiscal year 2017 has now passed both the House and Senate. On Thursday, the Senate passed the annual defense policy bill by a vote of 92-7. Last week the House passed the legislation by a vote of 375-34, so now it's off to President Obama for approval.
The compromise legislation omits two controversial provisions and provides the biggest raise in military pay in 5 years. The bill authorizes $618.7 billion in spending, including $59.5 billion for a war fund known as the overseas contingency operations (OCO) account.
See how your Representative and Senators voted on FY17 NDAA!
House passed CR, now it's up to Senate to avoid government shutdown
Final text for continuing resolution (CR) dropped this week. It funds the government at current level, with slight boost to defense spending, through April 28, 2017. The legislation includes funding for Flint, Michigan ($170 million) and Cures legislation ($872 million) and sells $375 million in crude oil from strategic oil reserve for the Energy Security and Infrastructure Modernization Fund. It eases restrictions for retired military members to be confirmed and changes truckers' off duty requirements.
Upon release of final text, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell called for provision extending expiring healthcare benefits for retired coal miners. The Congressional Budget Office scored the legislation, saying the coal miner health extension does not add to deficit.
Currently, the government's funded through continuing resolution that expires tonight at midnight. On Thursday, the House passed new CR by a vote of 326-96, and now the Senate must pass the legislation to avoid a government shutdown. Senate Democrats signaled they would not block the CR over provision to expedite confirmation process for President-elect Donald Trump's Defense secretary pick, but hold up could come over health care and pension plan extension for coal miners or lack of "Buy American" language (amendment struck from water infrastructure bill).
On Thursday, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell filed cloture and filled the tree, meaning no other senators can offer amendments. Senate's in today, with roll call votes possible but not scheduled. Unless an agreement is reached, cloture vote would occur one hour after the Senate convenes on Saturday, Dec. 10.
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Senate passed massive medical cures bill,
Now it's off to the White House
Massive medical cures legislation is now on its way to President Obama. On Wednesday, the Senate passed the "biggest health reform bill since the Affordable Care Act" by a vote of 94-5. Last week the House passed the same legislation by a vote of 392-26.
The sweeping legislation addresses disease research, opioid abuse, mental health programs, and drug and medical devices. Earlier in the week the Senate voted 85-13 to end debate on the legislation, with Vice President Joe Biden presiding over the vote. A portion of the bill (related to cancer research) was renamed in honor of his late son Beau Biden, who died of cancer last year.
President Obama "strongly supports" the measure and intends to sign it into law. Still catching up on 21st Century Cures package? This is for you.
See how your Representative and Senators voted on Cures legislation!
Cabinet selections continue,
Nominees begin contacting Senators
This week the Trump administration announced nominees for six positions that require Senate approval.
- Dr. Ben Carson, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
- Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator
- Linda McMahon, Small Business Administration Administrator
- Andrew Puzder, Secretary of Labor
- House Republican Conference Chair Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodger, Secretary of Interior
- Retired Gen. John Kelly, Secretary of Homeland Security
Meanwhile, other nominees began contacting and meeting with senators. Steven Mnuchin (nominee for Treasury Secretary) and Rep. Tom Price (nominee for Health and Human Services Secretary) met with several members of the Senate Finance Committee, which has jurisdiction over their nominations.
South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley was also on the Hill this week, meeting with several senators, including half of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, the panel responsible for her nomination. Committees hold confirmation hearings and refer nominations to the full Senate for final vote. Here's a list of committee jurisdictions. Learn more about the Senate's role in the nomination and confirmation process, and catch up on other selections.
House passed water infrastructure bill,
Now it's up to the Senate
On Thursday, the House passed water infrastructure bill by a vote of 360-61 — renamed the WIIN Act, this is the WRDA legislation you've been hearing about for weeks.
You see, both House and Senate passed separate versions in September. Both included emergency funding for Flint, Michigan but differing amounts. The House version focused on water infrastructure, while the Senate version focused on flood control and water transportation.
Lawmakers worked together to reconcile differences and unveiled compromise legislation on Monday. The bill now heads to the Senate where it faces opposition over California drought response provisions. Sen. Dick Durbin [D, IL] said there is "probably" enough opposition to block it from being passed.
#ICYMI
- Senate passed Anti-Semitism Awareness Act two days after it was introduced.
- Sen. Lindsey Graham [R, SC] said he will lead an inquiry into the suspected Russian election hacking.
- Reps. Eric Swalwell [D, CA-15] and Elijah Cummings [D, MD-7] introduced legislation to create independent bipartisan commission to investigate foreign interference in U.S. elections.
- Sen. Ted Cruz [R, TX] is really about queso.
- Department of Energy defended its rejection of the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository, saying Congress has supported the determination that the site is "unworkable" by not approving any new funding for the repository.
- Senate Republicans published video featuring their freshmen.
- Rep. Andy Harris [R, MD-1] introduced legislation to strip federal funding from universities serving as sanctuaries for students who are undocumented immigrants.
- President Obama supports requiring women to register for Selective Service when they turn 18, becoming the first president to endorse universal draft registration since Jimmy Carter.
- President-elect Trump is considering not submitting a budget to Congress.
- Senators from both sides of the aisle praised Vice President Joe Biden, taking more than twice the time allotted for tribute.
- Internal Revenue Service launched new tool to assist taxpayers with account balances and making payments.
- Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi announced his intention to resign after a failure of a referendum he proposed that would mitigate the power of the senate.
- House Democrats expanded their leadership team, announcing some positions at 1 am.
- John Glenn, American hero, aviation icon, and former U.S. senator died at 95 years old.
- House Oversight and Government Reform Chair Jason Chaffetz is readying a plan to make cuts to federal workforce.
- Sen. Tom Cotton [R, AR] and Rep. Trey Gowdy [R, SC-4] called for aggressive oversight of Trump administration in order to rebalance power between the three branches.
- Rep. Kevin Kramer [R, ND-0] published an op ed about the Dakota Access Pipeline.
- House voted down Fleming resolution to impeach IRS Commissioner John Koskinen. Vote was 342-72, nearly half of votes for advancing came from outside the House Freedom Caucus.
- Federal prosecutors recommended 17-20 year prison sentence for Chaka Fattah, former Pennsylvania congressman.
- Congress will not pass energy bill this session.
- Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid spoke for nearly 80 minutes at farewell event.
- House passed Senate-passed bill to permanently reauthorize the Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crimes Act, set to expire at the end of FY2017.
