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Category: On the Hill

OMB Letter of Concern to House Appropriators about FY16 CJS

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As this process gets ever more interesting, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Sean Donovan sent a letter to House Appropriations Committee’s Chairman Hal Rogers (R-KY) and Ranking Member Nita Lowey (D-NY) about the draft FY16 CJS Appropriations bill. The letter expressed strong concern on the funding levels for science and innovation due to the adherence of the committee to the Sequestration framework levels. The Committee is expected to mark up the bill this morning.

The letter says in part:

“Its shortsighted funding cuts undermine both fiscal responsibility and economic competitiveness, since they would prevent investments that both reduce future costs to taxpayers and inform business decision making, improve weather forecasting, support business expansion into new markets, and spur development of innovative technologies.”

Read the letter here.

 

House Gets Ready to Consider COMPETES and NDAA

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The House Rules Committee will meet at 3pm on Wednesday to considered movement forward for both HR 1735, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2016 and HR 1806, the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2015.

Today, the House Rules Committee will meet to consider the overall rule for the NDAA, and subsequent to that will determine which amendments will be considered on the House Floor. Over 300 amendments have been filed, and the full list is here.

When the House Rules Committee meets on Wednesday the will also consider the rule for COMPETES and what amendments will be considered on the House Floor. Over 40 amendments have been filed, and the full list of all the amendments is here.

The House is expected to consider the NDAA this week and COMPETES next week.

HASC Passes NDAA

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The House Armed Services Committee once again got its annual National Defense Authorization Act over the finish line this morning. Chairman Mac Thornberry (R-Texas) gaveled down at 4:39 a.m. after the panel voted 60-2 to approve the bill and 18 hours after the markup started. Over the course of the session, the panel considered roughly seven dozen amendments – not including those rolled into en bloc packages – with a host of spirited and often lengthy debates.

Overall the NDAA would authorize $495.9 billion in base Pentagon spending, and $611.8 billion in all when the Overseas Contingency Operations budget, Energy Department and mandatory spending are added. The bill is expected to be considered on floor when the House returns the week of May 11, the same week the Senate Armed Services panel will mark up its defense policy measure.

 

Feds Closed but Senate Holds Arctic Hearing

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With 4-10 inches forecast, Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) held a hearing on opportunities in the Arctic today despite the federal government being shut down due to snow in the District of Columbia. UW professor Cecilia Bitz testified before the Alaskan Senator, who is also Chair of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, on the topic. Professor Bitz was invited to testify by Ranking Member Maria Cantwell (D-WA).

The hearing can be seen here.

Snow Day!

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SNOW DAY!

Capitol Dome in Snow, Architect of the Capitol

The federal government is closed today as DC deals with a storm that has impacted the east coast from Atlanta to Boston. Winter storm warnings were in effect for 17 states, and the District remains under a warning until noon today. The Washington, DC metro area is expected to enjoy a balmy 32 degree high and snow totals ranging from 4 to 10 inches. Most neighborhoods within the beltway experienced 4 to 6 inches.

The House and Senate are in recess this week for President’s Day, so no action is expected on the Hill.  Normal business for federal agencies is expected to resume tomorrow as the District shovels out today.

Expect immigration and the Obama Executive Order to be a hot topic in the next few weeks. Last night, federal Texas judge Judge Andrew Hanen, a George W. Bush appointee, blocked the controversial Executive Order. Judge Hanen said there was sufficient merit to the case to suspend the actions while the case goes forward. The Administration is expected to appeal the ruling. Read more at the AP.