Both the House and Senate are back in session this week for a three-week scramble before the August recess.
The House will focus on the annual defense spending bill, which would authorize $886.3 million for national security, as outlined under the debt limit bill’s spending cap. The House Rules Committee must sift through close to 1,500 amendments. The annual defense bill has passed on a bipartisan basis for nearly 60 years, so House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) must tread carefully to balance appeasing conservatives with not alienating moderate Democrats to ensure sufficient support to pass this legislation.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) has stated that advancing the upper chamber’s version of the annual defense spending bill is a top priority for the upcoming work period. He also issued a letter over the weekend that identified additional areas for consideration, including legislation related to insulin, prescription drugs, combating the fentanyl crisis, energy permitting reform, and online safety.
Additionally, appropriators will continue consideration of the annual government funding bills. The Senate Appropriations Committee is set to mark up its commerce-justice-science, financial services, and legislative branch funding bills later this week.
Administration
On Monday, President Biden will meet with King Charles III, philanthropists, and investors at Windsor Castle in England to discuss climate efforts. Biden will also meet with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to discuss aid to Ukraine before traveling to Vilnius, Lithuania, for the 74th NATO summit. On Thursday, Biden will participate in the U.S.-Nordic Leaders Summit in Helsinki, Finland, before returning to Washington.
House Side
On Tuesday, the House will meet to consider multiple bills under suspension.
- Bills expected under suspension of the rules.
- H.R. 2622 – To amend the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 to codify certain Securities and Exchange Commission no-action letters that exclude brokers and dealers compensated for certain research services from the definition of investment adviser, and for other purposes, as amended (Rep. Sessions – Financial Services).
- H.R. 1548 – Improving Access to Small Business Information Act, as amended (Rep. Kim (CA) – Financial Services). The legislation would exempt actions by the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Small Business Capital Formation office from certain agency rules when collecting information from the public.
- S. 305 – 250th Anniversary of the United States Marine Corps Commemorative Coin Act (Sen. Blumenthal – Financial Services). The legislation would require the Treasury Department to mint coins to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Marine Corps.
Wednesday – Friday, the House is scheduled to meet for legislative business.
- Bills expected under a rule.
- H.R. 2670 – National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 (Rep. Rogers (AL) – Armed Services). The measure would authorize $886.3 billion for defense programs at the Pentagon, Energy Department, and other agencies. The House Armed Services Committee approved the bill by a 58-1 vote.
Senate Side
On Monday, the Senate will resume consideration of Xochitl Torres Small as deputy secretary for the Agriculture Department as well as Rosemarie Hidalgo as director of the Justice Department’s Violence Against Women Office. Additionally, the upper chamber will consider Washington state federal district court judge nominees Kymberly Evanson and Tiffany Cartwright.