Policy Update
This Week in Congress – January 18, 2018
Here's the scoop on what's happening this week in Congress.
For This Week in Congress – January 25, 2018 click here.
Government Shutdown
Partial government shutdown tracker: 28 days
On Wednesday, January 16, after failing to pass a continuing resolution (CR) that would open all closed federal agencies through February 1 the House passed a disaster aid package which included a three-week CR to fund the agencies under the seven remaining funding bills from FY19 through February 8. The bill also included an amendment that would bar the President from diverting any of the appropriated funds for a border wall. The bill is not expected to be taken up by the Senate.
On January 16, Representative Pelosi sent a letter to President Trump asking that he delay his State of the Union scheduled for January 29 due to safety concerns. The Congresswoman expressed concerns because both the Secret Service and Department of Homeland Security are affected by the government shutdown. President Trump responded to Representative Pelosi’s email on January 17, however, it is unclear if the State of the Union will still go forward as scheduled.
Committee Assignments
On Wednesday, January 16 the House Appropriations Chairwoman Nita Lowey (NY-17) announced the Democratic members assigned to the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health, and Human Services (LHHS). The subcommittee democratic members are:
- Rosa DeLauro (CT), chairwoman
- Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA)
- Barbara Lee (CA)
- Mark Pocan (WI)
- Katherine Clark (MA)
- Lois Frankel (FL)
- Cheri Bustos (IL)
- Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ)
- Nita M. Lowey (NY) – Ex Officio
House Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Kay Granger (TX-12) announced the Republican ranking members for the appropriations subcommittee for the 116th Congress. The ranking member for LHHS is Representative Tom Cole (OK-4).
In the Senate, the Appropriations Chairman Richard Shelby and Vice Chairman Patrick Leahy have announced the majority and minority subcommittee members for the 116th Congress. The following are the members for the Senate LHHS subcommittee:
Republican Subcommittee Members
- Roy Blunt (MO), chairman
- Richard Shelby (AL)
- Lamar Alexander (TN)
- Lindsey Graham (MO)
- Jerry Moran (KS)
- Shelley Moore Capito (WV)
- John Kennedy (LA)
- Cindy Hyde-Smith (MS)
- Marco Rubio (FL)
- James Lankford (OK)
Democrat Subcommittee Members
- Patty Murray (WA), ranking member
- Richard Durbin (IL)
- Jack Reed (RI)
- Jeanne Shaheen (NH)
- Jeff Merkley (OR)
- Brian Schatz (HI)
- Tammy Baldwin (WI)
- Chris Murphy (CT)
- Joe Manchin (WV)
Save the Date: Policy Webinar
NCSD will be hosting a webinar on Wednesday, February 6 from 2:00-3:00 pm EST to review NCSD’s federal policy strategy for FY20. Register here.
