This Week in Congress: Funding for the Border Crisis, Defense Policy, and the $383 Billion ‘Minibus’

Funding for the border crisis is expected to lead the agenda in both chambers of Congress in their final week before the Fourth of July recess, although its unclear whether a compromise between differing House and Senate versions of the bill will be struck this week.

The Senate starts its week Monday with a procedural vote to continue consideration of a bill to authorize $750 billion in fiscal year 2020 defense spending. A passage vote is expected later in the week after potential amendment votes, but once the Senate is finished with the defense policy bill it will move on to a bipartisan bill that would provide $4.59 billion in emergency funding to address the humanitarian and security crisis at the Southern border.

The House starts its week Monday with votes on two veterans affairs bills under the fast-track suspension of the rules process, before picking up where it left off last week working through amendments to a $383 billion “minibus” package which includes FY2020 funding for the Census, the Justice Dept., and the Environmental Protection Agency among other agencies. Work on the minibus is expected to conclude Tuesday, at which point the House will turn its attention to Democrats’ emergency spending package for the border crisis, the annual funding bill for the Treasury Dept. and related agencies, and an election security bill.

Additionally, the House may consider the annual legislative branch funding bill or other legislation at the end of the week.

Check here throughout the week to see the vote results and updates to the schedule.

Schedule subject to change. All times Eastern.

HOUSE

Monday after 6:30pm (under suspension of the rules)

• H.R. 2109: BRAVE Act Passed by voice vote.
• H.R. 2196: To amend title 38, United States Code, to reduce the credit hour requirement for the Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship program of the Department of Veterans Affairs Passed by voice vote.
• H.R. 3055: Commerce, Justice, Science, Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, Interior, Environment, Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Act, 2020 Debate and amendments only.

Tuesday after 12pm

• H.R. 3055: Commerce, Justice, Science, Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, Interior, Environment, Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Act, 2020 Passed 277-194.
• H.R. 3351: Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act, 2020 Debate and amendments only.
• H.R. 3401: Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for Humanitarian Assistance and Security at the Southern Border Act, 2019 Passed 230-195.

Wednesday after 12pm

• H.R. 3351: Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act, 2020 Passed 224-196.

Thursday between 9am and 3pm

• H.R. 2722: Securing America’s Federal Elections (SAFE) Act Passed 225-184.
• Senate amendment to H.R. 3401: Southern Border Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Passed 305-102.

SENATE

Monday after 5:30pm

• Motion to proceed to S. 1790: National Defense Authorization Act, 2020 Agreed to 86-6.

Tuesday

• Debate on S. 1790: National Defense Authorization Act, 2020

Wednesday

• H.R. 3401: Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for Humanitarian Assistance and Security at the Southern Border Act, 2019 Failed 37-55.
• Senate amendment to H.R. 3401: Southern Border Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Passed 84-8.

Thursday

• Cloture motion on the substitute amendment to S. 1790: National Defense Authorization Act, 2020 Invoked 87-7.
• Romney Amendment (Allows military to use force in defense of itself & American citizens) to S. 1790: National Defense Authorization Act, 2020 Adopted 90-4.
• Adoption of the substitute amendment (adds FY2020 intelligence authorization) to S. 1790: National Defense Authorization Act, 2020 Adopted by voice vote.
• S. 1790: National Defense Authorization Act, 2020, as amended Passed 86-8.

Friday

• Udall Amendment (Requires congressional authorization for attack on Iran) to S. 1790: National Defense Authorization Act, 2020 Failed 50-40 (60 votes required).

Tell your reps how to vote on this week's bills and share your thoughts below!

— Eric Revell