Look Ahead to the Week of March 4: The State of the Union and Government Spending
Both the Senate and House are in session.
This week, Congress will attempt to pass the first tranche of government spending bills after lawmakers introduced the omnibus text for six of the 12 bills on Sunday. The House plans to consider the legislation before President Biden delivers his State of the Union Address on Thursday. The Senate will then take up the package before the funding expires on Friday.
The measure includes funds for the departments of Agriculture, Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, Veterans Affairs, Energy, Commerce, Justice, and Interior; the Food and Drug Administration; and the Environmental Protection Agency through September 30, 2024.
Once the first six bills are enacted, lawmakers must then turn to the remaining six, which have proven more contentious and difficult to resolve. Those funding bills are set to expire on March 22.
The Senate will also consider a bill from Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) that would extend the period for filing claims under the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act. The legislation requires 60 votes for passage.
Additionally, the upper chamber may consider legislation passed by the House earlier in February that would extend the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) authorities to May 10, giving lawmakers more time to reconcile the different bills passed by the House and approved by the Senate Commerce Committee. The current FAA authorization runs through March 8.
Administration
Biden will likely discuss at his State of the Union plans to encourage an increase of taxes on the wealthy and corporations, lowering prescription drug prices, and protecting abortion rights. He also plans to tout his bipartisan work on the 2022 CHIPS and Sciences Act as well as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
On Friday, Biden will travel to Philadelphia for a campaign event. He will then travel to Atlanta on Saturday for additional campaign events.
House Side
On Tuesday, the House will meet to consider multiple bills under suspension.
- Bills expected under suspension of the rules.
- H.R. 4467 – DHS Border Services Contracts Review Act, as amended (Rep. Brecheen – Homeland Security). The bill would require the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to report to Congress on active contracts for security and other services at the United States-Mexico border.
- H.R. 6174 – DHS Biodetection Improvement Act (Rep. Strong – Homeland Security). The bill would require DHS to submit a strategy to Congress to conduct biodetection research and development in coordination with the Energy Department’s national labs.
- S.206 – END FENTANYL Act (Sen. Rick Scott – Homeland Security). The bill would require the U.S. Customs and Border Protection to review and update its inspection policies and manuals at ports of entry to account for technological changes designed to disguise illegal activity along the border.
- H.R. 5969 – Improving Travel for Families Act, as amended (Rep. Luttrell – Homeland Security). The legislation would permit children ages 10 or younger to accompany a parent or guardian through global entry lanes even if they aren’t members of the family.
- H.R. 4403 – Securing the Cities Improvement Act (Rep. Troy Carter – Homeland Security). The legislation would grant the DHS more flexibility to determine eligibility for its Securing the Cities Program to reduce the risk of nuclear and radiological threats.
- H.R. 498 – 9-8-8 Lifeline Cybersecurity Responsibility Act of 2023, as amended (Rep. Obernolte – Energy and Commerce). The legislation would require cybersecurity threats to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Program to be reported in a timely manner.
- H.R. 3838 – Preventing Maternal Deaths Reauthorization Act of 2023, as amended (Rep. Burgess – Energy and Commerce). The measure would reauthorize through fiscal year 2028 maternal health initiatives at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
- H.R. 3821 – Firefighter Cancer Registry Reauthorization Act of 2023 (Rep. Pascrell – Energy and Commerce). The measure would authorize the National Firefighter Cancer Registry to receive $5.5 million annually from fiscal year 2024 through fiscal year 2028.
- H.R. 3836 – Medicaid Primary Care Improvement Act, as amended (Rep. Crenshaw – Energy and Commerce). The bill would permit certain state Medicaid programs to cover primary care services through direct primary care arrangements for beneficiaries.
- H.R. 3843 – Action for Dental Health Act of 2023 (Rep. Robin Kelly – Energy and Commerce). The bill would reauthorize dental health workforce grant programs at $13.9 million annually through fiscal year 2028.
- H.R. 3391 – Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act of 2023, as amended (Rep. Wexton – Energy and Commerce). The legislation would reauthorize through fiscal year 2028 the National Institutes of Health’s pediatric disease research initiative.
- H.R. 4510 – NTIA Reauthorization Act of 2023, as amended (Rep. Latta – Energy and Commerce). The legislation would reauthorize and recognize the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), including changes to federal spectrum management.
- H.R. 3385 – DiasporaLink Act, as amended (Del. Plaskett – Energy and Commerce). The bill would require the NTIA to report to Congress on the value, cost, and feasibility of a trans-Atlantic fiber optic cable connecting the U.S. mainland, the Virgin Islands, Ghana, and Nigeria to enhance U.S. national security.
- H.R. 3277 – Energy Emergency Leadership Act (Rep. Walberg – Energy and Commerce). The legislation would require the Department of Energy secretary to assign energy emergency and security functions to the department’s assistant secretaries.
Wednesday – Friday, the House is scheduled to meet for legislative business.
- Bills expected under a rule.
- H.R. 2799 – Expanding Access to Capital Act of 2023 (Rep. McHenry – Financial Services). The measure would loosen certain securities regulations in an effort to increase access to capital markets. It would also change the accredited investor definition to enable more individuals to invest in private companies and preempt state laws related to independent contractor status.
- H.R. 7511 – Laken Riley Act (Rep. Collins – Judiciary). The measure would permit states to pursue civil action against the DHS and other federal agencies for harms allegedly caused by not complying with immigration laws related to admissions and removals. The bill would also require the DHS to detain migrants who enter the country illegally or who are charged with burglary or shoplifting.
Senate Side
On Tuesday, the Senate will consider the nominations of Ronald Keohane to be an assistant secretary of defense, Moshe Marvit to be a member of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission, and Cathy Harris to be chairman of the Merit Systems Protection Board.
[View source.]
