House Cloakroom: March 18 – March 22
Analysis: This week, the Ryan budget that balances in 10 years will move to the floor of the House for debate and a vote. It is expected to pass with Republican support, setting up a stark contrast with the Senate Democrats’ budget. The Republican Study Committee will also offer a budget plan that speeds up the implementation of Medicare premium support, a reform plan that would allow seniors to select a health insurance plan that meets their needs and pay a premium that is at a subsidized level.
Major Floor Action:
- H Con Res __: Establishing the budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2014
Major Committee Action:
- The House Financial Services Committee will hold a hearing on the Federal Housing Finance Agency.
- The House Ways and Means Committee will hold a hearing on the “Effect of Federal Tax Policy on States and Localities.”
- The House Science, Space and Technology Committee will hold a hearing on “Threats from Space.”
- The House Foreign Affairs Committee will hold a hearing on the “U.S. Response to Syria Crisis.”
Senate Cloakroom: March 18 – March 22
Analysis: The Senate will continue working this week on the continuing resolution that would fund the government until September 30. The Senate is expected to modify the resolution sent over by the House with three appropriations bills, Agriculture, Homeland Security, and Commerce, Justice, Science and pass the resolution before the end of the week. The Senate will likely also take up its budget resolution on the floor. The Senate budget includes a massive $1 trillion tax increase, but somehow manages to never balance.
Major Floor Action:
- HR 933: Department of Defense, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act
- S Con Res __: Setting forth the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2014
Major Committee Action:
- The Senate Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing on a “New Immigration System.”
- The Senate Banking Committee will hold a hearing on “Housing Finance Revision Proposals.”
- The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee will hold a hearing on “Keeping Savings in the Retirement System.”
- The Senate Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing on the “Future of Drones in America.”
- The Senate Finance Committee will hold a hearing on “Updating the Medicare and Medicaid Financing System.”
