PSW Weekly Round-Up - 12/15

Legislative Update

Senate. The Senate and House are both in session this week and plan to leave by Friday for the rest of the year. When Congress reconvenes the week of January 5, lawmakers will be facing a Jan. 30 deadline for action on the nine FY 2026 appropriations bills that have not been enacted, with limited legislative days on the calendar. The Senate is scheduled to be out of session the week of Jan. 19, while the House calendar shows that the House will be out the following week, when the Jan. 30 deadline hits. As action wraps up this week, the Senate will continue to consider nominations and will vote on the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which cleared the House on Dec. 10 by a vote of 312-112.

House. The House has a variety of bills on its agenda this week, including energy and health proposals. The SPEED Act would expedite environmental reviews and litigation under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), while the Power Plant Reliability Act would give the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission the authority to delay power plant retirements by up to 10 years.

As an alternative to extending enhanced subsidies under the Affordable Care Act that expire Dec. 31, the House Republican leadership plans a vote on a package of health proposals. Among other things, the package would require more transparency from pharmacy benefit managers and help small businesses purchase health coverage by allowing employers to offer workers tax-advantaged funds to pay for individual health insurance, in lieu of offering a traditional group plan. The Rules Committee will meet Tuesday and decide whether to allow an amendment to be offered by Republican moderates that would extend the expiring ACA subsidies for two years. Even if the House approves the health package, it is not expected to clear the Senate.

Monday, December 15

House Rules Committee meeting to formulate a rule on measures including:
- H.R. 4776, SPEED Act
- H.R. 3616, Reliable Power Act
- H.R. 3632, Power Plant Reliability Act of 2025

Tuesday, December 16

House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Aviation hearing: “The State of American Aviation”
House Judiciary Subcommittee on Administrative State, Regulatory Reform, and Antitrust hearing: “Anti-American Antitrust: How Foreign Governments Target U.S. Businesses”
House Financial Services Committee markup on various housing and bank regulatory measures
House Judiciary Subcommittee on Constitution and Limited Government hearing: “Partisan and Profitable: The SPLC's Influence on Federal Civil Rights Policy”
House Rules Committee meeting to formulate a rule on:
- H.R. 498, Do No Harm in Medicaid Act
- H.R. ____, Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act
Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Protection hearing: “Ensuring Fair Access to Banking: Policy Levers and Legislative Solutions”

Wednesday, December 17

House Oversight and Government Reform Committee: Member Day hearing
House Education and Workforce Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions hearing: “Ensuring Union Leaders Represent Members, Not Agendas”
House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations hearing: “Examining Biosecurity at the Intersection of AI and Biology”
Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee hearing: FCC Oversight with Chairman Brendan Carr and Commissioners Anna Gomez and Olivia Trusty
Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Subcommittee on Aviation, Space, and Innovation hearing: “FAA’s Plan for ATC Modernization: Evaluating Progress, Ensuring Accountability and Results”

Thursday, December 18

House Science, Space, and Technology Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight hearing: “Research Security: Examining the Implementation of the CHIPS and Science Act and NSPM‑33”
House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment hearing: “Examining the Impact of EPA's CERCLA Designation for Two PFAS Chemistries and Potential Policy Responses to Superfund Liability Concerns”

Recent Executive Action of Note

President Trump signed an executive order on Dec. 11 giving the Attorney General the authority to sue states that adopt measures that do not support the “United States’ global A.I. dominance.” The order also directs federal agencies to consider withholding funding for states that pass their own A.I. laws. The order is expected to be challenged in court by states and consumer groups. The President also signed an executive order directing the SEC, FTC, and Labor Department to make a variety of changes to the shareholder voting process. The order singles out the two largest proxy advisor firms, Institutional Shareholder Services and Glass, Lewis & Co.