Legislative Activity

Markups on Appropriations Bills Begin in the House this Week with FY2018 MilCon-VA Bill; House Republican Members Push for an Omnibus Before August Recess

Appropriations subcommittees in the House will commence FY 2018 spending bill markups this week, with the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs (MilCon-VA) subcommittee markup scheduled for this evening. Still lacking a comprehensive FY 2018 budget resolution, the committee is reportedly planning to release the top-line discretionary spending level (302A) later this month.

The Republican Study Committee joined Rep. Tom Graves (R-GA), who chairs the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government, in supporting his strategy to move directly to a 12-bill omnibus, with the intent to send it to the Senate prior to the August recess. While proponents of the plan recognize the challenge in achieving this goal, given the House is only in session six weeks before the August recess, they feel it will provide leverage as they eventually work through an FY 2018 compromise with the Senate.

This Week’s Hearings:

House Appropriations Committee

• On Monday, June 12, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government has scheduled a Department of Treasury budget hearing. The witness will be:

  • The Honorable Steven Mnuchin, Secretary, Department of the Treasury

• On Monday, June 12, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies has scheduled a markup for the FY 2018 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Bill. The witnesses will be announced.

• On Tuesday, June 13, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security has scheduled a hearing titled “Immigration and Customs Enforcement &Customs and Border Protection FY18 Budget Request.” The witnesses will be:

  • Thomas D. Homan, Acting Director, Immigration and Customs Enforcement

  • John P. Wagner, Deputy Executive Assistant Commissioner, Customs and Border Protection

  • Carla L. Provost, Acting Chief, United States Border Patrol

• On Tuesday, June 13, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies has scheduled a Department of Justice budget hearing. The witness will be:

  •  The Honorable Jefferson Sessions, Attorney General

• On Wednesday, June 14, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs has scheduled a hearing titled “Department of the Treasury – International Programs Budget Hearing.” The witness will be:

  • The Honorable Steven Mnuchin, Secretary, Department of the Treasury

• On Wednesday, June 14, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs has scheduled a Department of State budget hearing. The witness will be:

  • The Honorable Rex Tillerson, Secretary, Department of State

• On Thursday, June 15, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense has scheduled a Department of Defense budget hearing. The witnesses will be:

  • The Honorable James N. Mattis, Secretary, Department of Defense

  • General Joseph Dunford, USMC, Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff

• On Thursday, June 15, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies has scheduled a Department of Transportation budget hearing. The witness will be:

  • The Honorable Elaine Chao, Secretary, Department of Transportation

• On Thursday, June 15, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies has scheduled an Environmental Protection Agency budget hearing. The witnesses will be:

  • The Honorable Scott Pruitt, Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency

  • Ms. Holly Greaves, Senior Advisor to the Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency

• On Friday, June 16, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies has scheduled a Federal Bureau of Investigation budget hearing. The witnesses will be:

  • The Honorable Andrew G. McCabe, Acting Director, Federal Bureau of Investigation

Senate Appropriations Committee 

• On Tuesday, June 13, the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies has scheduled a hearing titled “Review of the FY 2018 Budget Request for the U.S. Department of Justice.” The witness will be:

  • The Honorable Jeff Sessions, Attorney General, U.S. Department of Justice

• On Tuesday, June 13, the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies has scheduled a hearing titled “Hearing to Review the FY 2018 USDA Budget Request.” The witnesses will be:

  • The Honorable Sonny Perdue, Secretary, U.S. Department of Agriculture

  • Dr. Robert Johansson, Chief Economist, U.S. Department of Agriculture

  • Mr. Michael Young, Budget Officer, U.S. Department of Agriculture

• On Tuesday, June 13, the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies has scheduled a hearing titled “Review of the FY2018 Budget Request for the U.S. Dept. of Transportation.” The witness will be:

  • The Honorable Elaine Chao, Secretary, U.S. Department of Transportation

• On Tuesday, June 13, the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs has scheduled a hearing titled “Review of the FY 2018 Budget for the U.S. Department of State.” The witness will be:

  • The Honorable Rex Tillerson, Secretary, U.S. Department of State

• On Wednesday, June 14, the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense has scheduled a hearing titled “Review of the FY 2018 Budget Request for the U.S. Dept. of Defense.” The witnesses will be:

  • The Honorable James N. Mattis, Secretary, U.S. Department of Defense

  • General Joseph F. Dunford, Jr., USMC, Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff

• On Wednesday, June 14, the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on the Legislative Branch has scheduled a hearing titled “Review of the FY 2018 Budget Requests for the Senate Sergeant at Arms, U.S. Capitol Police.” The witnesses will be:

  • The Honorable Frank R. Larkin, Sergeant At Arms, United States Senate

  • Matthew Verderosa, Chief of Police, United States Capitol Police

• On Wednesday, June 14, the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development has scheduled a hearing titled “Review of the FY2018 Budget Request for the National Nuclear Security Administration.” The witnesses will be:

  • Lieutenant General Frank G. Klotz, USAF (Ret.), Under Secretary For Nuclear Security Administrator, National Nuclear Security Administration

  • Mr. Philip T. Calbos, Acting Deputy Administrator For Defense Programs, National Nuclear Security Administration, U.S. Department of Energy

  • Mr. David G. Huizenga, Acting Deputy Administrator For Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation, National Nuclear Security Administration, U.S. Department of Energy

  • Admiral James F. (Frank) Caldwell Jr., USN, Deputy Administrator For Naval Reactors, National Nuclear Security Administration, U.S. Department of Energy

• On Thursday, June 15, the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies has scheduled a hearing titled “Review of the FY2018 Department of Health & Human Services Budget Request.” The witness will be:

  • The Honorable Thomas Price, Secretary, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Senate Budget Committee

• On Tuesday, June 13, the Senate Budget Committee has scheduled a hearing titled “President’s FY 2018 Budget and Revenue Proposals.” The witness will be:

  • The Honorable Steven T. Mnuchin, Secretary, U.S. Department of the Treasury