PSW Weekly Round-Up - 4/13

Legislative Update

Senate. The Senate this week will resume debate on the SAVE America Act, which would require proof of citizenship to register to vote in federal elections and tighten identification rules at the polls. The Senate is also set to vote on a war powers resolution pushed by Democrats to limit Trump’s authority in attacking Iran.

House. The House is planning to vote on an 18-month extension of Title VII of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), which is set to expire April 20. One of the expiring provisions (Section 702) authorizes U.S. intelligence agencies to monitor certain private electronic messages of foreigners abroad without obtaining a warrant. The House will also vote on three bills modifying emissions limits and environmental reviews under the Clean Air Act. In addition, a measure requiring collision provision technology for certain civilian and military aircraft will be considered under suspension of the rules. Also possible is a vote on a war powers resolution directing the President to remove military personnel from Iran, other than those necessary to defend the U.S. and its allies.

DHS Funding/Reconciliation. The House does not have plans to vote this week on the Senate-passed measure that would fund all Department of Homeland Security (DHS) programs except for ICE and CBP (Customs and Border Protection). House Freedom Caucus members do not want to vote on the measure until they see progress on a reconciliation bill to fund ICE and CBP. After an April 10 meeting at the White House with Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) and Senate Budget Chairman Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), President Trump signed off on the Senate crafting a narrow reconciliation bill that provides ICE and CBP funding for three years but does not contain other provisions.

The first step in the reconciliation process is consideration of an FY 2026 budget resolution, which could be released by Senator Graham as soon as this week, with possible floor consideration as soon as the week of April 20. (At this point in the year, markup by the Senate Budget Committee is optional.) The budget resolution is expected to direct only two committees – Judiciary and Homeland Security – to draft reconciliation language to fund ICE and CBP. During floor consideration, Senators can offer unlimited amendments to the resolution during a vote-a-rama, but the amendments must be germane.

Assuming Senate approval with a simple majority, the measure will then be voted on by the House. If the House concurs with the Senate bill, the relevant committees will then draft language to be included in the reconciliation measure, which will be subject to another vote-a-rama in the Senate. President Trump has said he wants the bill on his desk by June 1.

FY 2027 Spending Bills. The House Appropriations Committee today released its markup schedule for the 12 FY 2027 spending bills. The schedule, which can be found here, begins with two subcommittee markups on Friday and concludes on June 24 with full committee markup of the defense bill.

Committee Action of Note

Tuesday, April 14

• House Ways and Means Health Subcommittee Field Hearing in Bradenton, Fla.: Modernized Health Care in Practice: Empowering Americans to Live Healthier Lives
• House Rules Committee meeting to formulate a rule on:
  • H.R. 6387, FIRE Act
  • H.R. 6398, RED Tape Act
  • H.R. 6409, FENCES Act
  • H. Res. 1156, Expressing support for tax policies that support working families.
  • H.R. 8035, To amend the FISA Amendments Act of 2008 to extend the authorities of title VII of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 through October 20, 2027, and for other purposes.
• Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee Markup to consider:
  • S.2378, investments in aviation security checkpoint technology
  • S.3257, to revise regulations for certain individuals carrying out aviation activities who disclose a mental health diagnosis or condition

Wednesday, April 15

• House Armed Services Committee Meeting: Member Day
• House Financial Services Subcommittee on Capital Markets Hearing: Safeguarding Main Street: Combatting Fraud and Exploitation in Our Capital Markets
• House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on East Asia and Pacific Hearing: Helping American Businesses Win Abroad: Strengthening U.S. Commercial Diplomacy
• House Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee on Government Operations Hearing: “Fraud Prevention: Understanding Fraud in Federally Funded Programs Run by the States”
• House Budget Committee Hearing: The President’s Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Request
• House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health Meeting: Healthier America: Legislative Proposals to Improve Public Health
• House Education and Workforce Subcommittee on Workforce Protections Hearing: “Building an AI-Ready America: Understanding AI’s Economic Impact on Workers and Employers”
• House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Budget Hearing: Department of Energy with DOE Secretary Wright
• House Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces Hearing: FY27 Missile Defense & Missile Defeat Programs and Activities
• House Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness Hearing: Military Readiness for Fiscal Year 2027
• Senate Finance Committee Hearing: “IRS 2026 Filing Season and IRS Operations”
• Senate Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Energy Hearing: To receive testimony on pending legislation

Thursday, April 16

• House Ways and Means Committee Hearing with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.
• House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security Budget Hearing: Department of Homeland Security – CBP, ICE, and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
• House Financial Services Subcommittee on Financial Institutions Hearing: Promoting Access to Credit for Everyday Americans
• House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy Hearing: The Fiscal Year 2027 Department of Energy Budget with DOE Secretary Chris Wright
• House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense Budget Hearing: The United States Army
• House Agriculture Committee Hearing: “Testimony from the Honorable Michael S. Selig, Chairman, U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission”
• House Administration Committee Hearing: “Oversight with Secretaries of State: List Maintenance and Eligibility Verification.”
• House Education and Workforce Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions Hearing: “Examining the Policies and Priorities of the Employee Benefits Security Administration”
• House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Budget Hearing: Department of Agriculture
• House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Budget Hearing: Office of the United States Trade Representative
• House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party Hearing: “China’s Campaign to Steal America’s AI Edge”
• House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere Hearing: Latin America After the Fall of Maduro
• House Judiciary Subcommittee on Oversight Hearing: “The Human Toll of Sanctuary Policies: Stories from Victims and Families”
• House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security Budget Hearing: Department of Homeland Security – CISA, TSA, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Secret Service, and FEMA
• House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Hearing: Department of Health and Human Services
• House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Budget Hearing: United States Forest Service
• Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee Hearing: “Making Medicines More Affordable: How Competition Can Lower Drug Prices”
• Senate Budget Committee Hearing: “The President’s Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Proposal” with OMB Director Russell Vought

Friday, April 17

• House Education and Workforce Committee Hearing: “Examining the Policies and Priorities of the Department of Health and Human Services”
• House Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Markup: Fiscal Year 2027 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Bill
• House Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government Markup: Fiscal Year 2027 Financial Services and General Government Bill

Political Update

House Special Elections. Republican Clay Fuller, who won the April 7 special election to succeed fellow Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene in Georgia’s 14^th Congressional District, will be sworn in on Tuesday. Also on Tuesday, Democrat Analilia Mejia, co-executive director of the Center for Popular Democracy, is expected to prevail in the special election to succeed Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-N.J.) in New Jersey’s 11^th Congressional District.

www.psw-inc.com