Legislative Activity

Senate Continues Consideration of Appropriations Bills, House Process Delayed

The Senate is expected to pass the FY 2017 Energy and Water Development (Energy-Water) Appropriations bill as early as this week, after considering numerous amendments on the floor last week. In addition to the Energy-Water bill, the Senate may begin consideration of the FY 2017 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs (MilCon-VA) Appropriations Act or the FY 2017 Commerce, Justice, and Science (CJS) Appropriations Act next.

Additionally, the FY 2017 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies (THUD) Appropriations Act is ready for floor consideration, though the Senate is expected to take up the MilCon-VA and CJS bills first. The $56.5 billion THUD Appropriations bill would provide $2.3 billion for the Capital Investment Grant program, which funds New Starts, Small Starts, and Core Capacity Improvement projects for transit systems, and $525 million for the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant program, a $25 million increase over FY 2016.

Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Thad Cochran (R-MS) has said a bipartisan deal that would provide funding to support the federal government’s efforts to combat the Zika virus will be offered as an amendment to an appropriations bill in the near future, though it’s unclear whether the measure would be successful in the House. The House has not begun floor consideration of appropriations bills, and likely will not until after May 15 because the House failed to pass a budget.

This Week’s Hearings:

• Wednesday, April 27: The Senate Budget Committee will hold a hearing titled “Fixing the Budget Process: Better Budgets, Better Results.”

Senate Appropriations Committee FY 2017 Budget Hearings

• Wednesday, April 27: The Senate Appropriations Committee Defense Subcommittee will hold a hearing on the FY 2017 budget request and funding justification for the Defense Department.