August 2, 2019
Spending Deal Signed Into Law
After clearing the Senate yesterday by a 67-28 margin, H. R. 3877, the two-year spending deal, was signed into law earlier today by the president. The law increases the discretionary spending levels for FY2020 and FY2021, effectively ending the last two years of potentially draconian spending cuts called for by the Budget Control Act of…
July 26, 2019
On to the Senate
By a vote of 284 to 149, the House cleared yesterday H. R. 3877, the bipartisan package that would increase the debt limit and increase the spending levels for the next two fiscal years. Even after an agreement was reached earlier in the week, there were some questions as to whether the President supported it. …
July 25, 2019
House Takes Up Budget Agreement
With the August recess scheduled to start this weekend serving as the impetus, the House will take up later today the two-year budget deal that was agreed to by the Congressional Democrats and the White House. The agreement would, among other things, increase the debt limit as well as raise the spending caps on discretionary…
July 23, 2019
Budget and Debt Limit Agreement Reached
Following a series of phone calls and in-person negotiations, an agreement was reached last evening that would, if signed into law, raise both the debt limit and the spending levels for next year and FY2021. Shortly after President Trump announced that a deal was agreed to, Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-NY) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck…
June 25, 2019
Second “Minibus” Approved by House
After completing its debate that was carried over from last week, the House adopted earlier this afternoon its second “minibus” package of spending bills by a vote of 227 to 194. The approved legislation, H.R. 3055, includes five of the 12 FY2020 spending bills: Commerce-Justice-Science; Agriculture; Interior and the Environment; Military Construction-Veterans Affairs; and Transportation-Housing and…
June 20, 2019
First Spending Package Adopted
The House adopted yesterday by a vote of 226 to 203 H.R. 2740, the first set of spending bills for FY2020. Shortly after its passage, the chamber started debate on the next set of measures, a five-bill package, which includes the Commerce-Justice-Science, Agriculture, Interior and Environment, Transportation and Housing, and Military Construction-Veterans Affairs bills. Due…
June 19, 2019
From One Bill to the Next
After several long days of debate, the House is expected to vote on passing the first four-bill spending package for FY2020 later today. The chamber concluded its debate on the last amendments made in order for the bill late last night/early this morning and will vote on them and on final passage later today. The…
June 17, 2019
Appropriations Work Continues in House This Week
The House is scheduled to continue its appropriations work on the floor this week. When it reconvenes on Tuesday, the House is expected to resume its debate on the first package of spending bills for FY2020, one that is made up of the Labor-HHS-Education, Defense, Energy and Water, and State-Foreign Operations bills. After completing work on…
June 12, 2019
First Spending Package Ready for Floor Action
The last two FY2020 spending bills– the Homeland Security and Financial Services measures– were cleared by the House Appropriations Committee yesterday. The homeland security legislation was adopted 29 – 20 while the financial services bill was approved 30 – 21. With all 12 bills having gone through the committee process, the House is now slated…
May 23, 2019
Two More Spending Bills Clear House Committee
After a full day of markups, the House Appropriations Committee reported out yesterday afternoon two more FY2020 spending bills . The Commerce-Justice-Science bill (see relevant documents here), which funds, among other agencies, the National Science Foundation, NASA, and NOAA, was approved 30 to 22. The Interior and Environment bill (see relevant documents here), which funds a host…