Congress’s Q3 Review

The third quarter of 2018 is in the books, and with Congress gone until after the midterm elections let’s take a look at what your reps worked on the last few months and what awaits lawmakers when they return for a lame duck session.

What passed?

• Congress approved a total of $1.002 trillion in fiscal year 2019 appropriations via two “minibus” spending bills ― over 75% of the discretionary budget ― with the remaining agencies funded at current levels through December 7th.
• The Senate confirmed Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court along with eight circuit court judges, and 27 district court judges.
• Congress passed a bipartisan opioid crisis response bill that contains over 70 proposals aimed at preventing and treating addiction.
• A five-year FAA reauthorization that also refomed TSA, FEMA disaster relief programs, and provided $1.68 billion in disaster relief for areas impacted by Hurricane Florence was passed and signed into law.
• Congress passed a bipartisan, two-year reauthorization of water infrastructure projects to make improvements to ports, inland waterways, dams, flood protection, and drinking water systems.

What’s left for the lame duck session?

• Funding for the agencies that Congress hasn’t approved FY19 appropriations for yet, the most notable debate coming over the Dept. of Homeland Security’s budget for border wall construction.
• Congress has been working on a new Farm Bill for, but negotiations on a compromise between the differing House and Senate versions of the bill have stalled over the House bill’s significant reforms to food stamps. Farm Bill programs technically lost their authorization at the end of September, and if progress isn’t made a short-term extension may be required in December.
• The Senate will likely take up the confirmation of a new U.S. ambassador to the United Nations following the resignation of Nikki Haley.
• The Senate hasn’t indicated whether it will consider the FIRST STEP Act, a bipartisan bill that reforms the federal prison system to reduce recidivism that passed the House on a 360-59 vote and has the support of the White House.
• It also isn’t clear if the Senate will take the time to vote on the House-passed GOP Tax Reform 2.0 bills, which would make the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act’s tax cuts for individuals, families, and small businesses permanent.

Tell your reps whether they’ve done a good job in recent months and what you’d like them to work on after the election!

— Eric Revell

(Photo Credit: iStock.com / weible1980)