April 10, 2017
Two Weeks of Recess
As Congress begins a two-week recess for Easter and Passover, the countdown clock begins toward a potential government shutdown. Lawmakers left town last Friday insisting there would be no government shutdown when the current stopgap measure funding the government expires on April 28. For several weeks, House and Senate appropriators have been slowly negotiating a…
April 7, 2017
What We’re Reading, April 3-7
Here’s a selection of articles the Federal Relations team is reading this week. Rollback of ED Regs? – GOP lawmakers have been clear since November’s election about plans to dismantle several Obama administration higher education regulations, including two major rules aimed at the for-profit college sector. Read about it in Inside Higher Ed. Nukes Detonated –…
Gorsuch Confirmed
After a very bitter fight between the two parties, the Senate confirmed earlier today Neil Gorsuch as the newest member of the U.S. Supreme Court. The final vote was 55 – 45, with three Democrats joining the Republicans to support the nomination. Justice Gorsuch is expected to be officially sworn next Monday morning.
April 6, 2017
Gorsuch Nomination Moves Forward After Senate Rule Change
The Senate earlier today used the “nuclear” option on the nomination of Neil Gorsuch for a seat on the U.S. Supreme Court by eliminating the filibuster for Supreme Court nominations. The Senate voted along party lines to change the Senate rules to allow Supreme Court nominations to move forward by a simple majority vote rather…
April 3, 2017
This week in Congress, April 3-7
Here is a selection of committee meetings happening this week. Tuesday, April 4 Senate Appropriations NATIONAL WATER HAZARDS AND VULNERABILITIES April 4, 2:30 p.m., 192 Dirksen Bldg. Subcommittee Hearing Senate Armed Services CYBER THREATS TO THE U.S. April 4, 2:30 p.m., SVC-217, U.S. Capitol Subcommittee Hearing Senate Energy & Natural Resources…
Votes Scheduled on Supreme Court Nominee This Week
The Senate Judiciary Committee is currently scheduled to officially vote today on the nomination of Neil Gorsuch to become the next Supreme Court Justice. The committee is expected to clear the nominee for floor consideration for later this week. It is unclear at this point how the nomination vote will play out once it reaches…
March 30, 2017
Two More Cabinet Nominees Clear Committee
On March 30, the Senate Agriculture Committee and the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee reported out the nominations of Sonny Perdue and Alexander Acosta for the posts of Secretary of Agriculture and Secretary of Labor, respectively. The nominations now head to the full Senate for its consideration.
March 29, 2017
New Executive Order Aimed at Rolling Back Obama-era Environmental Policies Signed
At the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Tuesday, President Trump signed an executive order designed to roll back many of the Obama-era environmental policies aimed at curbing climate change. Among the provisions of the new order are those instructing the agency to consider repealing the Clean Power Plan and asking the EPA to also consider repealing…
March 27, 2017
This Week in Congress, March 27-31
Here is a selection of committee meetings taking place on the Hill this week. Monday, March 27 Senate Judiciary GORSUCH/PENDING NOMINATIONS Noon March 27, 226 Dirksen Bldg. Full Committee Markup Tuesday, March 28 Senate Armed Services DOD WORLDWIDE POLICY/DEFENSE SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET March 28, 2:30 p.m., SVC-217, U.S. Capitol Full Committee Briefing…
March 24, 2017
Healthcare Bill Pulled
After a drama-filled day of discussions and conversations between the House and the White House and among the House Republicans themselves, which did not ultimately create enough support for its passage, the healthcare legislation was pulled from the House floor before a vote. The path forward on the push to repeal and replace Obamacare remains uncertain.