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DC Download 11.06.2023

With 11 days until the government shuts down, House lawmakers this week are considering appropriations bills for the Departments of Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and the Treasury. On the Senate side, Senators are working on nominations while administration officials continue lobbying for the President’s emergency funding requests. 

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Tune into the Progressive Caucus Action Fund’s latest Tools for Progress Briefing, “The People vs. SCOTUS: A Preview of the 2023 Fall Supreme Court Term,” on Wednesday, November 8th at 1 pm ET. You’ll learn about the cases before the Court this term and what we can do to fight for a Supreme Court that truly protects the people. We will also hear from Special Guest Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04) on legislative proposals to restore legitimacy to – and expand – the Court. 

 
 

We’ll break down the most critical cases on the docket this year with leading experts, including:

  • Special Guest Rep. Hank Johnson (GA-04), lead sponsor of the Judiciary Act

  • Jon Greenbaum, Chief Counsel, Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law

  • Meagan Hatcher-Mays, Director of Democracy Policy, Indivisible; and

  • Ricardo Pacheco, Senior Legislative Affairs Associate, Progressive Caucus Action Fund

This term, the Court is considering cases that could restrict our right to vote, deny access to medication abortion care nationwide, slash regulations on big banks, make it harder to expose companies violating our civil rights, and so much more. On top of that, we have a more corrupt Court than ever and need to hold it accountable. Don’t miss this free virtual briefing on November 8 at 1 pm ET/10 am PT! Sign up today!

 

 

House Floor

The House will vote on six suspension bills from the Committee on Natural Resources. 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. 4820 – Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024 (Sponsored by Rep. Cole / Appropriations Committee): The bill provides $65 billion for the Departments of Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and related agencies—$26 billion below Fiscal Year 2023, a reduction of over 28 percent. 

H.R. 4664 – Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act, 2024 (Sponsored by Rep. Womack / Appropriations Committee): The bill provides $11.3 billion—58 percent below the Fiscal Year

2023 level—for agencies like the Department of the Treasury, which manages federal finances and the IRS, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

The House may also consider additional legislative items. 

House Committee Highlights

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

Tuesday Hearings

Oversight of the Bureau of Prisons (Judiciary)

The Tangled Web of Global Governance: How the Biden Administration is Ceding Authority Over American Financial Regulation (Financial Services)

Ensuring that "Woke" Doesn't Leave Americans Broke: Protecting Seniors and Savers from ESG Activism (Ways & Means) 

Markup of Ukraine assistance bill and other measures (Foreign Affairs)

 Wednesday Hearings

Free Speech on College Campuses (Judiciary)

United Nations’ Bigotry Towards Israel UNRWA Anti-semitism Poisons Palestinian Youth (Foreign Affairs)

Burdensome Regulations: Examining the Effects of Department of Energy Regulations on America’s Job Creators (Small Business)

Friend and Ally: U.S. support for Israel after Hamas’ Barbaric Attack (Foreign Affairs)

Advances in Deepfake Technology (Oversight & Accountability)

 

 

Nominations

The Senate this week has teed up votes on the following nominees:

  • Monica M. Bertagnolli, of Massachusetts, to be Director of the National Institutes of Health

  • Kenly Kiya Kato, of California, to be United States District Judge for the Central District of California

  • Julia E. Kobick, of Massachusetts, to be United States District Judge for the District of Massachusetts

  • Ramon Ernesto Reyes, Jr., of New York, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of New York

Senate Committee Highlights

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

Tuesday Hearings

Social Media and the Teen Mental Health Crisis (Judiciary)

Sustainable Tourism for a Thriving Economy (Commerce, Science, & Transportation) 

Understanding Roadway Safety: Examining the Causes of Roadway Safety Challenges and Possible Interventions (Environment & Public Works)

Wednesday Hearings 

Accessing Clean Water Infrastructure Assistance: Small, Rural, Disadvantaged, and Underserved Communities (Environment & Public Works)

A Review of the President’s Supplemental Request for the Departments of Health and Human Services and Homeland Security (Appropriations)

The Philosophy of AI: Learning From History, Shaping Our Future (Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs)

U.S. National Security Interests in Ukraine (Foreign Relations)

Fairness and Fiscal Responsibility: Cracking Down on Wealthy Tax Cheats (Budget)

Avoiding a Cautionary Tale: Policy Considerations for Artificial Intelligence in Health Care (HELP)

Fentanyl in Native Communities: Native Perspectives on Addressing the Growing Crisis (Indian Affairs)

Thursday Hearings

Addressing Close Calls to Improve Aviation Safety (Commerce, Science, & Transportation) 

Examining How the Tax Code Affects High-Income Individuals and Tax Planning Strategies (Finance)

The Implementation of Federal Coal Mine Land Reclamation and Abandoned Coal Mine Land Economic Revitalization Programs (Energy & Natural Resources)

Business Meeting: Authorization for Subpoenas Relating to the Supreme Court Ethics Investigation (Judiciary)

 

 

Government Funding 

The stopgap funding bill, otherwise known as a continuing resolution (CR), Congress passed in September expires in 11 days, but lawmakers have not passed the appropriations bills necessary to keep the government funded past November 17. So far, the House has passed seven of the 12 annual spending bills on a partisan basis, while the Senate has passed three. However, the Senate has moved every spending bill through committee with nearly unanimous support from both parties. Congress must pass all 12 appropriations bills or another CR before November 17 or face a government shutdown. Last week, House Speaker Mike Johnson signaled his support for a new CR to push the funding deadline until mid-January, but has not released any details. Some House Republicans want to include parts, if not all, of H.R. 2, the House GOP anti-immigration bill, in a stopgap. If they do, most House Democrats and the Senate will likely reject the bill. 

White House Emergency Security Package

The White House requested a $106 billion emergency security package last month to aid Ukraine and Israel, among other priorities. The House of Representatives last week split the proposal and passed a $14.5 billion bill to aid only Israel. The bill offsets the spending—atypical for an emergency request—by rescinding IRS funding intended to go after wealthy tax dodgers passed through the Inflation Reduction Act. According to the Congressional Budget Office, the bill would decrease revenues by $26.8 billion over a ten-year period, resulting in a $12.5 billion net increase in the deficit. Following its passage, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced that the Senate would not consider the bill, calling it “deeply flawed.” Instead, Senators are working on a bipartisan bill containing funding for Israel, Ukraine, the Indo-Pacific, and humanitarian aid for Gaza. House Speaker Mike Johnson last week announced his plan to consider a separate bill with aid for Ukraine and funding for the U.S.-Mexico border. He has not released details. 

 

 

November: Native American Heritage Month

November 8: The People vs. SCOTUS: A Preview of the 2023 Fall Supreme Court Term 

November 11: Veterans Day

November 17: Government funding expires 

November 23: Thanksgiving Day

November 24: Native American Heritage Day