Infrastructure

The $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure framework may be decided this week if the GOP “gang of 10” can convince their party’s leadership and caucuses. The revised proposal includes $579 billion in new spending – the rest, coming from expected continuance of existing baseline spending. While Democrats (like Senator Warner) have expressed optimism in constructing a deal with their GOP counterparts, they have made clear their willingness to back a second, more expensive, budget reconciliation bill. Sen. Warner highlighted negotiated “offsets” include, leveraging public-private partnerships and reallocating returned federal unemployment funds.

New Worries Around New COVID-19 Delta Variant

The increasingly dominant, more transmissible, and more deadly Delta variant coronavirus strain discovered in India is worrying experts. This week, Scott Gottlieb, the former FDA commissioner explained that the variant could possible “spike a new epidemic” among unvaccinated people in the fall.

House Deeming Resolution 

This week, the House set a $1.506 trillion FY’22 appropriation ceiling. Next, Appropriations Chair DeLauro will spread the funds between the 12 subcommittees. The deeming resolution, H. Res. 467, can be accessed via https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-resolution/467/text?

Senate Appropriations Process

While Chair Leahy has indicated his expectations to start discussing top-line numbers with Ranking Member Shelby soon, there is no official word on how or when Senate Democratic leaders will kick off the appropriations process.

Contrary to the House, Senate Democratic leaders can’t bring appropriations bills to the floor without support from at least 10 Republicans – a threshold that doesn’t seem to exist. Senate Republican opposition rests in Biden’s underwhelming 1.6% boost in defense spending. This may be the second year in a row the Senate panel doesn’t mark up spending measures if no agreement is reached

Scheduled Appropriations Committee Markups

On Tuesday, House Appropriations Committee Chair Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) announced her Committee’s plan for marking up the twelve FY’22 appropriation bills beginning Thursday, June 24 until July 16. The current date set to mark up the LHHS appropriation bill is Monday, July 12 – all other scheduled meetings include:

Thursday, June 24

Subcommittee Markups: Financial Services and General Government; Legislative Branch

Friday, June 25

Subcommittee Markups: Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies; Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies

Monday, June 28

Subcommittee Markups: Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies; State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs

Tuesday, June 29

Subcommittee Markups: Subcommittee Allocations; Financial Services and General Government; Legislative Branch

Wednesday, June 30

Full Committee Markups: Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies; Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies

Subcommittee Markups: Defense; Homeland Security

Thursday, July 1

Full Committee Markups: Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies; State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs

Monday, July 12

Subcommittee Markups: Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies; Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies; Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies; Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies

Tuesday, July 13

Full Committee Markups: Defense; Homeland Security

Thursday, July 15

Full Committee Markups: Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies; Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies

Friday, July 16

Full Committee Markups: Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies; Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies