Legislative Activity

Appropriations Process in Full Swing as House and Senate Mark Up Bills

Both the House and Senate Appropriations Committees will hold subcommittee and full committee appropriations bill markups and release 302(b) suballocations this week, even without an approved budget resolution in either chamber.

The budget process has stalled in both the House and Senate, and it seems unlikely that either chamber will get back on track. In March, the House Budget Committee approved a budget resolution that adopts the $1.07 trillion discretionary spending limit agreed to in last year’s budget deal. However, the budget resolution is currently stalled due to opposition from members of the House Freedom Caucus, who prefer the lower $1.04 trillion sequester-level spending limit. Failing to pass a budget means Republicans will not be able to use the budget reconciliation process to push policy priorities through the Senate with a simple majority vote. The budget reconciliation process is not subject to the 60-vote threshold in the Senate, but is only available if a budget resolution is adopted.

Even without a budget resolution, the House and Senate Appropriations Committees are pushing the appropriations process forward by holding markups this week. Both chambers are expected to adopt 302(b) suballocation numbers for each appropriations bill this week that are likely to follow the $1.07 trillion topline discretionary funding level.

This week, the Senate Appropriations Committee will hold subcommittee and full committee markups of the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs and the Energy and Water Development appropriations bills. On Thursday, the Committee will also release the 302(b) suballocations that will determine topline numbers for each appropriations bill. Energy and Water Development Subcommittee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-TN) said his subcommittee will avoid contentious policy riders during the markup, and suggested those provisions should be offered on the Senate floor instead.

On, Wednesday, the House Appropriations Committee is expected to adopt 302(b) suballocations and will hold a full committee markup of the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs appropriations bill, which was marked up by the subcommittee on March 23, and subcommittee markups of the Energy and Water Development and Agriculture appropriations bills.

This Week’s Hearings:

• Tuesday, April 12: The Senate Appropriations Committee State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Subcommittee will hold a hearing on causes and consequences of violent extremism and the role of foreign assistance.

• Wednesday, April 13: The Senate Appropriations Committee Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Subcommittee will hold a markup of the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act for FY 2017.

• Wednesday, April 13: The Senate Appropriations Committee Energy and Water Development Subcommittee will hold a markup of the Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act for FY 2017.

• Wednesday, April 13: The Senate Budget Committee will hold a hearing titled “Fixing the Broken Budget Process: Outcome Budgeting to Maximize Taxpayer Value.”

• Wednesday, April 13: The House Appropriations Committee will hold a markup of the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act for FY 2017.

• Wednesday, April 13: The House Appropriations Committee Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies Subcommittee will hold a markup of the Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act for FY 2017.

• Wednesday, April 13: The House Appropriations Committee Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Subcommittee will hold a markup of the Agriculture Appropriations Act for FY 2017.

• Thursday, April 14: The Senate Appropriations Committee will hold a markup of the Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act and the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act for FY 2017.

• Thursday, April 14: The House Appropriations Committee Defense Subcommittee will hold a closed oversight hearing of the United States Pacific Command.

Senate Appropriations Committee FY 2017 Budget Hearings

• Tuesday, April 12: The Senate Appropriations Committee Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee will hold a hearing on the FY 2017 budget request and funding justification for the Securities and Exchange Commission and Commodity Futures Trading Commission.

• Wednesday, April 13: The Senate Appropriations Committee Defense Subcommittee will hold a hearing on the FY 2017 budget request and funding justification for the Missile Defense Agency.