They’re back: Congress returns to Washington
Congress’ two-week recess has officially ended, with the House returning tomorrow and the Senate back in session today. Both chambers are returning to full agendas, with attention focused on budget hearings, ongoing discussions around funding the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and continued speculation about a potential “Reconciliation 2.0” package.
In the near term, much of the focus will be on whether the Senate takes steps to advance funding for Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, potentially through a narrower reconciliation vehicle. The House, for its part, is not expected to take up DHS funding legislation this week, as leadership continues to wait for greater clarity on the viability and scope of a reconciliation package in the Senate before moving forward. We will be watching closely for any movement in the Senate.
Healthcare action will be centered at the committee level this week, where there are certainly no shortage of healthcare-related hearings. On Tuesday, the House Committee on Ways and Means’ Health Subcommittee will hold a hearing at the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine in Bradenton, Florida, on modernizing healthcare to improve chronic disease prevention and incentivizing healthcare innovation. On Wednesday, the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform’s Government Operations Subcommittee will hold a hearing to discuss fraud prevention in state-run, federally funded programs, and the House Committee on Energy and Commence, Health Subcommittee will also hold a hearing to review public health legislation…