Legislative Activity

Budget Resolution Markup Possible This Week

House Budget Committee Chairman Tom Price (R-GA) has kept the Budget Committee’s schedule open this week in the hopes of marking up an FY 2017 budget resolution. While the markup has not yet been scheduled, it would likely take place on Tuesday or Wednesday.

Chairman Price and House Republican Leadership have been working on a budget plan that will gain acceptance from the more conservative members of the Republican conference, including by promising votes on $30 billion of spending cuts to offset the increased spending for FY 2017 agreed to in the bipartisan budget deal last year. House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) has argued that adhering to the $1.07 trillion discretionary spending limit from the budget deal would provide Republicans the opportunity to advance conservative policies through the appropriations process. If Republicans reduce the topline number, Senate Democrats will likely prevent appropriations bills from even reaching the Senate floor.

Chairman Price has said he will find $30 billion in cuts to entitlement spending over two years in order to offset the spending increase, though many members of the House Freedom Caucus (HFC) have voiced opposition to this plan, arguing that the promised spending cuts are unlikely to be enacted. However, Republican Leadership and Committee Chairmen have moved forward with identifying spending cuts with the hope they can convince their more conservative colleagues to pass a budget resolution.

House Ways and Means Chairman Kevin Brady (R-TX) recently proposed legislation that would reduce spending by $16.5 billion over two years and $98 billion over 10 years. The three bills would (1) require a social security number in order to receive the refundable portion of the Child Tax Credit, (2) recover improper Obamacare subsidy payments, and (3) repeal a social services block grant program.

House Energy and Commerce Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI) also announced plans to act on Representative Joe Pitts (R-PA) proposed legislation that would save $25 billion over 10 years by eliminating the Prevention and Public Health Fund established by the Affordable Care Act, reduce Medicaid reimbursements for prisoners, and reduce the federal match to the Children’s Health Insurance Fund.

It is unclear whether the planned cuts to entitlement spending will garner enough support from House Republicans to pass a budget resolution at the higher spending levels.

This Week’s Hearings:

• Thursday, March 17: The House Appropriations Committee Defense Subcommittee will hold a closed oversight hearing on the U.S. Central Command.

• Thursday, March 17: The House Appropriations Committee Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Subcommittee will hold a public and outside witness hearing on American Indian and Alaska Native issues (Part One).

• Thursday, March 17: The House Appropriations Committee Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Subcommittee will hold a public and outside witness hearing on American Indian and Alaska Native issues (Part Two).

• Friday, March 18: The House Appropriations Committee Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Subcommittee will hold a public and outside witness hearing on American Indian and Alaska Native issues (Part Three).

• Friday, March 18: The House Appropriations Committee Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Subcommittee will hold a public and outside witness hearing on American Indian and Alaska Native issues (Part Four).

Senate Appropriations Committee FY 2017 Budget Hearings

• Tuesday, March 15: The Senate Appropriations Committee State, Foreign operations, and Related Programs Subcommittee will hold a hearing on the FY 2017 budget request and funding justification for the U.S. Agency for International Development.

• Tuesday, March 15: The Senate Appropriations Committee Legislative Branch Subcommittee will hold a hearing on the FY 2017 budget request and funding justification for the Library of Congress and the Architect of the Capitol.

• Wednesday, March 16: The Senate Appropriations Committee Defense Subcommittee will hold a hearing on the FY 2017 budget request and funding justification for the National Guard and Reserve.

• Wednesday, March 16: The Senate Appropriations Committee Energy and Water Development Subcommittee will hold a hearing on the FY 2017 budget request and funding justification for the Energy Department’s National Nuclear Security Administration.

• Wednesday, March 16: The Senate Appropriations Committee Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Subcommittee will hold a hearing on the FY 2017 budget request and funding justification for the Transportation Department.

• Thursday, March 17: The Senate Appropriations Committee Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Subcommittee will hold a hearing on the FY 2017 budget request and funding justification for the Labor Department.

House Appropriations Committee FY 2017 Budget Hearings

• Monday, March 14: The House Appropriations Committee Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee will hold a hearing on the FY 2017 budget for the Office of Personnel Management.

• Tuesday, March 15: The House Appropriations Committee Defense Subcommittee will hold a Member’s Day hearing on the FY 2017 budget for the Department of Defense.

• Tuesday, March 15: The House Appropriations Committee Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Subcommittee will hold a hearing on the FY 2017 budget for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

• Tuesday, March 15: The House Appropriations Committee Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Subcommittee will hold a hearing on the FY 2017 budget for the Labor Department.

• Tuesday, March 15: The House Appropriations Committee Homeland Security Subcommittee will hold a hearing on the FY 2017 budget for the U.S. Secret Service.

• Tuesday, March 15: The House Appropriations Committee Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Subcommittee will hold a hearing on the FY 2017 budget for the Agriculture Department rural development programs.

• Tuesday, March 15: The House Appropriations Committee Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Subcommittee will hold a hearing on the FY 2017 budget for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

• Tuesday, March 15: The House Appropriations Committee State, Foreign Operations, and Related Agencies Subcommittee will hold a hearing on the FY 2017 budget for the Treasury Department’s international programs.

• Tuesday, March 15: The House Appropriations Committee Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies Subcommittee will hold a hearing on the FY 2017 budget for the Energy Department’s environmental management programs.

• Tuesday, March 15: The House Appropriations Committee Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee will hold a hearing on the FY 2017 budget for the Federal Communications Commission.

• Tuesday, March 15: The House Appropriations Committee Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Subcommittee will hold a hearing on the FY 2017 budget for the Transportation Department and Housing and Urban Development’s Office of Inspector General.

• Wednesday, March 16: The House Appropriations Committee Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Subcommittee will hold a hearing on the FY 2017 budget for the National Park Service.

• Wednesday, March 16: The House Appropriations Committee Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee will hold a hearing on the FY 2017 budget for the Treasury Department.

• Wednesday, March 16: The House Appropriations Committee Homeland Security Subcommittee will hold a hearing on the FY 2017 budget for the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

• Wednesday, March 16: The House Appropriations Committee Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Subcommittee will hold a hearing on the FY 2017 budget for the Agriculture Department research, education, and economics programs.

• Wednesday, March 16: The House Appropriations Committee Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Subcommittee will hold a hearing on the FY 2017 budget for the National Institutes of Health.

• Wednesday, March 16: The House Appropriations Committee Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Subcommittee will hold a hearing on the FY 2017 budget for the National Science Foundation.

• Wednesday, March 16: The House Appropriations Committee Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Subcommittee will hold a hearing on the FY 2017 budget for the Bureau of Indian Education Schools.

• Wednesday, March 16: The House Appropriations Committee State, Foreign Operations, and Related Agencies Subcommittee will hold a hearing on the FY 2017 budget for the U.S. Agency for International Development.

• Thursday, March 17: The House Appropriations Committee Homeland Security Subcommittee will hold a hearing on the FY 2017 budget for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

• Thursday, March 17: The House Appropriations Committee Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Subcommittee will hold a hearing on the FY 2017 budget for the Agriculture Department’s Farm and Foreign Agriculture Service.