Legislative Update
Senate. Among the nominations on the Senate’s agenda this week is that of Lina Khan to be a Federal Trade Commissioner. Khan’s confirmation, in turn, could clear the way for the Senate to vote on Rohit Chopra to head the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Chopra is currently one of two Democratic commissioners at the FTC, where there is one vacancy, resulting in a 2D/2R line-up.
House. The House will vote on H.R. 1187, a package of five Financial Service Committee bills dealing with environmental, social, and governance (ESG) disclosure requirements for public companies. The measure would require public companies to disclose financial risks related to climate change and certain information regarding executive pay increases and political expenditures. Also, multinational companies would be required to disclose taxes they pay on a country-by-country basis. Given the lack of Republican support in the committee for these proposals, the House package is unlikely to garner 60 votes in the Senate.
House Procedures. Beginning this week, fully vaccinated House Members and staff do not have to wear masks. However, masks are still required for non-vaccinated individuals, according to an 18-page memo issued June 11 by the Office of the Attending Physician. In a message sharing the updated mask guidance, Majority Leader Steny Hoyer also advised Members that floor votes will now be open for a total of 20 minutes, and voting groups will no longer be implemented. Proxy voting is still allowed, but the latest extension of that process is set to expire on July 3. There is speculation that proxy voting will not be extended, but there has been no announcement from Democratic leadership.
FY 2022 Appropriations. House Budget Chairman John Yarmouth (D-Ky.) today unveiled what’s known as a deeming resolution that will clear the way for House Appropriations subcommittees to begin work on FY 2022 spending bills. The resolution, which temporarily takes the place of a budget resolution, deems that discretionary spending will be set at $1.5 trillion, the level proposed by the President’s budget. It does not set separate levels for defense and non-defense spending. The House will vote on the deeming resolution this evening as part of a rule on unrelated legislation (H.R. 1187 and H.R. 256).
House and Senate consideration of an FY 2022 budget resolution has been delayed by, among other things, the late release of the President’s budget and the lack of a clear-cut plan by Democrats on how they want to proceed with reconciliation instructions that will be part of the resolution. By July, both chambers are expected to be ready to vote on a budget resolution, but until that is approved, the deeming resolution will allow the House appropriators to begin their work.
Appropriations Chair Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) has said she wants to mark up the 12 FY 2022 spending bills in June, ahead of July floor votes. Her Senate counterpart, Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) said Friday he wants to start marking up in July. However, there is no expectation that Congress will approve appropriations bills by the Oct. 1 start of the new fiscal year, thereby necessitating a continuing resolution to keep the government open.
Committee Action of Note:
The House Republican Steering Committee this week is recommending leaders to helm committees in 2025.
Read MoreThe House and Senate have limited legislative agendas this week as they move toward a target adjournment date of December 20. To fill two House vacancies, Florida will hold special elections on April 1.
Read MoreBoth chambers are in session this week, but action will pick up dramatically when they return in December from the Thanksgiving break.
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