This Week in Congress: Anti-Gang Grants, Water Resources & the First FY19 “Minibus”

With the Memorial Day recess in the rear view mirror, spending season on Capitol Hill will begin in earnest this week when the House takes up the first “minibus” package of appropriations bills for fiscal year 2019.

The House starts its week on Tuesday when it will consider seven bills process, including legislation to exempt veterans from application fees when hosting veterans’ events at federal war memorials and to promote the hiring of U.S. workers in the Northern Mariana Islands. Wednesday will feature votes on a two-year authorization for water infrastructure projects and a grant program that’d provide $50 million annually to help states and cities combat gangs. The House will then spend Thursday and Friday debating and considering amendments to a $145 billion “minibus” spending bill that funds veterans affairs & military construction, energy & water projects, and the legislative branch.

The Senate starts its week on Monday with a procedural vote to limit debate on the nomination of Robert Wier to be U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of Kentucky. Its schedule for the rest of the week is yet to be announced.

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

Schedule subject to change. All times Eastern.

House

Tuesday after 6:30pm (all suspensions)

• H.R. 3997: Free Veterans from Fees Act, as amended Passed by voice vote.
• H.R. 5956: Northern Mariana Islands U.S. Workforce Act of 2018 Passed by voice vote.
• H.R. 801: Route 66 National Historic Trail Designation Act, as amended Passed by voice vote.
• H.R. 1026: North Country National Scenic Trail Route Adjustment Act, as amended Passed by voice vote.
• H.R. 5655: Camp Nelson Heritage National Monument Act Passed Passed 376-4.
• H.R. 2991: Susquehanna National Heritage Area Act, as amended Passed 373-9.
• H.R. 5005: To direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special resource study to determine the suitability and feasibility of establishing the birthplace of James Weldon Johnson in Jacksonville, Florida, as a unit of the National Park System Passed 374-5.

Wednesday after 12pm

• H.R. 3249: Project Safe Neighborhoods Authorization Act of 2018 Passed 394-13, 2 present.
• H.R. 8: Water Resources Development Act of 2018 Passed 408-2.

Thursday after 12pm

• H.R. 3: Spending Cuts to Expired and Unnecessary Programs Act Passed 210-206.
• H.R. 5895: Energy and Water, Legislative Branch, and Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act, 2019 Amendment votes only.

Friday between 9am and 3pm

• H.R. 5895: Energy and Water, Legislative Branch, and Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act, 2019 Passed 235-179.

Senate

Monday after 5:30pm

• Cloture vote on the nomination of Robert Wier to be U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of Kentucky Invoked 90-1.

Tuesday after 11am

• Confirmation vote on the nomination of Robert Wier to be U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of Kentucky Confirmed 94-1.
• Cloture vote on the nomination of Fernando Rodriguez, Jr. to be U.S. District Judge for the Southern District of Texas Invoked 94-1.
• Confirmation vote on the nomination of Fernando Rodriguez, Jr. to be U.S. District Judge for the Southern District of Texas Confirmed 96-0.
• Cloture vote on the nomination of Annemarie Axon to be U.S. District Judge for the Northern District of Alabama Invoked 84-11.

Wednesday after 11am

• Confirmation vote on the nomination of Annemarie Axon to be U.S. District Judge for the Northern District of Alabama Confirmed 83-11.

Thursday

• Confirmation vote on the nomination of Kenneth Marcus to be Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Dept. of Education Confirmed 50-46.
• Cloture vote on the motion to proceed to H.R. 5515: National Defense Authorization Act for FY2019 Invoked 92-4.

Friday

• No votes are expected.

You can tell your reps how to vote on this week's bills using the "Take Action" button!

— Eric Revell