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DC Download 09.26.2023

The U.S. government runs out of money in four days and lawmakers still have not come to an agreement to avoid a shutdown. House appropriators this week are hoping to pass as many spending bills as they can, but may also consider a stopgap bill to keep the government running before the September 30th deadline. At the same time, Senators are considering a bill to reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration, as its authorities also expire on September 30th.

Table of Contents:

Worker Power

Whether we are Black or white, young or old, in big cities or small towns, we work hard for our families and our future. Everyone deserves safe jobs, family-sustaining wages, and time to spend with our loved ones. But far too many of us are still living paycheck to paycheck while greedy corporations try to divide us, hoping we’ll look the other way while they steal the profits from our hard work. By joining together in a union and putting power in workers’ hands, every one of us can care for our families, earn a fair return on our work, and make our voices heard and our rights respected.

Read more at the Progressive Playbook.

Fast Facts:

Sixty-nine percent of people surveyed said working people have too little power, including over three-quarters of Democrats and nearly six in 10 Republicans.
On average, union workers’ wages are 11.2 percent higher than those for their nonunion counterparts, especially for women and people of color. Black workers represented by a union are paid 13.7 percent more than their nonunionized peers. Hispanic workers represented by unions are paid 20.1 percent more than their nonunionized peers.
Over the last 40 years, corporations and politicians have intentionally and relentlessly attacked working people’s right to join together in union. Membership now is less than half of what it once was.

House Floor

The House will vote on two suspension bills from the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs and Education & Workforce. Suspension bills require a ⅔ majority to pass. For a list of all suspension bills being considered, click here.

The House will also consider the following bills, subject to a rule:

H.R. 4365 – Making appropriations for the Department of Defense for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, and for other purposes (Sponsored by Rep. Calvert / Appropriations Committee): The bill would provide $826.4 billion in discretionary funding for Fiscal Year 2024 to the Pentagon and for defense-related activities, $28.7 billion more than the previous year. Some notable provisions include prohibiting travel allowances for service members to access abortion services; banning activities related to diversity, equity, and inclusion; prohibiting activities that promote “critical race theory”; and barring the use of funds for gender-affirming surgeries or hormone therapies.

Bill Report (Appropriations Committee)
Bill Summary (Appropriations Committee)

H.R. 4367 – Making appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, and for other purposes (Sponsored by Rep. Joyce (OH) / Appropriations Committee): The bill would provide $62.8 billion in discretionary funding for Fiscal Year 2024 to the Department of Homeland Security and includes funding for a U.S-Mexico border wall. It also includes provisions that bar funding for humanitarian assistance grants, gender-affirming care, abortions, diversity initiatives, and the department’s efforts to fight against disinformation.

Bill Report (Appropriations Committee)
Bill Summary (Appropriations Committee)

H.R. 4665 – Making appropriations for the Department of State, foreign operations, and related programs for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, and for other purposes (Sponsored by Rep. Diaz-Balart / Appropriations Committee): The bill would provide almost $53 billion in discretionary funding for Fiscal Year 2024 for the State Department and global programs and activities, a 12 percent decrease from the previous year. The bill would also rescind $11.1 billion for a greenhouse gas reduction fund established under the Inflation Reduction Act and includes provisions that bar funding for the support of Palestinian statehood, abortions, diversity initiatives, drag performances, and gender-affirming surgeries.

Bill Report (Appropriations Committee)
Bill Summary (Appropriations Committee)

H.R. 4368 – Making appropriations for Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies programs for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, and for other purposes (Sponsored by Rep. Harris / Appropriations Committee): The bill would provide $25.3 billion in discretionary funding for Fiscal Year 2024 to the Department of Agriculture and related agencies. The bill would also provide $122 billion in mandatory funding for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), a decrease of $31.9 billion from the previous year. It would block the FDA’s decision to remove an in-person dispensing requirement for the abortion medication mifepristone. The bill would also bar funds to carry out any program that promotes critical race theory or diversity initiatives, or enforces new tobacco rules setting standards for nicotine levels or banning certain flavors.

Bill Report (Appropriations Committee)
Bill Summary (Appropriations Committee)

The House may also consider additional legislation.

House Committee Highlights

A full list of this week’s hearings and markups can be found here. Notable hearings and markups include:

Wednesday Hearings

Action Through Innovation: Private Sector Solutions to Recouping Stolen Pandemic Loan Funds (Small Business)

The Future of Homeland Security: Addressing the Rise of Terrorism in Africa (Homeland Security)

Examining the Policies and Priorities of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (Education & Workforce)

Hearing on Biden Administration’s Use of National Park Service Lands for Migrant Camps (Natural Resources)

The Current U.S.-South Africa Bilateral Relationship (Foreign Affairs)

Legislative Branch Advancement: GAO Modernization (House Administration)

Oversight of the Securities and Exchange Commission (Financial Services)

Gary Gensler, Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission, is testifying

Thursday Hearings

Clean Water Infrastructure Financing: State and Local Perspectives and Recent Developments (Transportation & Infrastructure)

Energy Independence: How Burdensome Regulations are Crushing Small Offshore Energy Producers (Small Business)

Reclaiming Congress’s Article I Powers: Counterterrorism AUMF Reform (Foreign Affairs)

Oversight of Federal Agencies’ Post-Pandemic Telework Policies: Part II (Oversight & Accountability)

Modernizing Child Welfare to Protect Vulnerable Children (Ways & Means)

How SCOTUS's Decision on Race-Based Admissions is Shaping University Policies (Education & Workforce)

The Basis for an Impeachment Inquiry of President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. (Oversight & Accountability)

Communism on Our Doorstep: The Threat of China’s Malign Influence in Latin America (Foreign Affairs)

Senate Floor

H.R. 3935 - Securing Growth and Robust Leadership in American Aviation Act (Sponsored by Rep. Graves (MO) / Transportation and Infrastructure Committee): The bill would authorize the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to receive $104 billion for core FAA operations and programs, $1.4 billion for the Essential Air Service program supporting smaller airports, and $1.3 billion for FAA research and development. The bill would also reauthorize the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) at $753 million through Fiscal Year 2028. The bill addresses several areas, including pilot staffing, passenger rights, and safety enhancements.

Press Release (Transportation & Infrastructure Committee)

Senate Committee Highlights

A full list of this week’s Senate committee hearings, including confirmation hearings, can be found here. Notable committee hearings include:

Wednesday Hearings

The State of Flood Insurance in America (Banking, Housing, & Urban Affairs)

Markup of S. 2860, the SAFER Banking Act (Banking, Housing, & Urban Affairs)

Medicare Forever: Protecting Seniors by Making the Wealthy Pay Their Fair Share (Budget)

Foreign Ownership in U.S. Agriculture (Agriculture, Nutrition, & Forestry)

Native Priorities for the 2023 Farm Bill Reauthorization (Indian Affairs)

AI and the Future of our Elections (Rules & Administration)

Thursday Hearing

Hearing to Examine Opportunities to Counter the People's Republic of China's Control of Critical Mineral Supply Chains (Energy & Natural Resources)

Government Funding

The U.S. government faces a real possibility of shutting down on Saturday night. Last week, the House failed (for the second time) to pass the rule that would allow debate on the appropriations bill to fund the Pentagon. Similarly, House lawmakers were expected to consider a stopgap spending bill, otherwise known as a continuing resolution (CR), that would temporarily fund the government for another month, but House Republican Leadership pulled the bill when they realized they didn’t have enough votes to pass it. Now, House Republican Leadership is readying to pass a slate of partisan appropriations bills by the end of the week, including funding for the Departments of Defense, Homeland Security, State, and Agriculture. At the same time, House Republican Leadership is eyeing a CR that would fund the government temporarily. However, some House Republicans are against CRs; House Speaker Kevin McCarthy can only afford to lose four Republican votes. Meanwhile, Senate Republicans blocked an effort last week to advance a “minibus” package that includes the Military Construction-VA, Agriculture-FDA, and Transportation-HUD spending bills for Fiscal Year 2024. Senators are reportedly in bipartisan talks to develop a CR of their own, but are unsure how to handle Ukraine aid, which many House Republicans would reject.

President Biden Impeachment Inquiry

House Republicans this week are launching their impeachment “inquiry” into President Joe Biden. The House Committee on Oversight & Accountability is holding their first hearing this Thursday to examine the basis for the inquiry. House Republicans are alleging that then-Vice President Joe Biden knew about and benefited from his son’s business overseas, but have no direct evidence to support their claim. Now that House Speaker Kevin McCarthy directed some House committees to launch an impeachment “inquiry,” they’re expected to subpoena the personal and business bank records of Hunter Biden and the president’s brother James Biden. The House Committees on Ways & Means and Judiciary have also been empowered by the House Speaker to launch inquiries, but they have yet to announce any hearings.