Budget and Appropriations

Thursday, House Republicans said that a two-year budget deal on spending levels could come together in the next few days.  If there is agreement on spending limits for fiscal year 2018 and 2019, appropriators would then have to work to write a final appropriations package for 2018. As was noted in the STD Weekly—now is the time to weigh in with Congress regarding the importance of STD funding and to ask them to restore the previous $5 million funding cut to STD prevention! Please email Stephanie Arnold Pang for talking points.

Regardless, Congress will need to pass a another continuing resolution (CR) by the end of next week that would allow them more time to write the larger appropriations bill.  The next CR is expected to run through at least February 16 but that date could also be pushed into March.  All that to say, there are a lot of moving pieces so stay tuned!!

CHIP

House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Greg Walden told reporters on Thursday that he plans on bringing a six-year reauthorization of the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) to the floor next week.  This could be attached to a continuing resolution (CR) that Congress will have to pass before the January 19 expiration of the current CR. But this is all dependent on broader spending negotiations currently underway as mentioned above.

Nominations

On Tuesday, the Senate Finance Committee held a confirmation hearing for Alex Azar who is President Trump’s nominee to lead the Department of Health and Human Services.