PSW Weekly Round-Up - 9/21

Legislative Update

House. The House last week cut its schedule short, recessing Wednesday night until Nov. 9. Before leaving, lawmakers approved a Russia sanctions bill, which the President signed into law on Sept. 18.

Senate. The Senate is scheduled to be in session this week and next, but there is chatter that the Senate might not stick around for any or all of the last week in September. This week, the Senate is considering a college sports bill that would create national rules for compensating college athletes, limit transfers and mid-season coaching moves, and set a five-year window for athletic eligibility.

The Senate could also vote on Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolutions that would disapprove certain emissions standards. While no details have been announced, the Senate could take up CRAs to overturn two waivers that prior administrations granted California to set vehicle emissions standards. The Senate could also vote on two CRAs approved last week by the House disapproving EPA waivers allowing California to set emissions standards for cruise ships, container ships, and other vessels.

There is speculation that Senator Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio) may ask for unanimous consent to take up and pass the Connected Vehicle Security Act. The bill, sponsored by Senators Moreno and Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), would prohibit the import, sale, and operation of vehicles that use certain technologies, such as software and data systems, developed in China. The measure was approved by the Commerce Committee in July.

With limited floor time available for the remainder of the year, the Senate does not plan to vote on the farm bill that the Agriculture Committee approved Sept. 16 and will not try again to move its version of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Instead, both bills will be negotiated by leaders in the House and Senate, with the goal of taking compromise versions to the floor in the lame duck session.

Committee Action of Note:

Monday, September 21

• House Budget Committee Field Hearing: “America’s Fiscal Future: Examining the Need for a Fiscal Commission.”

Wednesday, September 23

• Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing: “Standing Up for Women in Sports: Ensuring Opportunity, Fairness and Safety for Female Athletes.”
• Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Counterterrorism Hearing: “Always Watching: Flock’s Nationwide AI Surveillance Network.”
• Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Hearing to Examine Updating America’s Nuclear Waste Management Policy.

Thursday, September 24

• Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee Markup to consider nominations and legislation, including:
  • Nomination of Nicole Saphier to be Medical Director in the Regular Corps of the Public Health Service and Surgeon General of the Public Health Service
  • S. 4428, legislation to require the use of an identity-fraud detection system in reviewing Free Applications for Federal Student Aid
• Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee Nomination Hearing to consider the nomination of Heidi Overton to be Commissioner of Food and Drugs

Executive Action of Note:

On Sept. 18, President Trump extended for a year an executive order that would impose a $100,000 fee for H-1B non-immigrant visas. The President first imposed the fee on Sept. 19, 2025, but it has been blocked since a June court order. The Trump administration is appealing the court order. This and other recent executive actions include:

• Nominations Sent to the Senate, including Hung Cao to be Secretary of the Navy and Heidi Overton to be Commissioner of Food and Drugs - Sept. 14, 2026
• Providing Meaningful Water Quality Improvements Through Collaboration and Oversight of Federal Support - Sept. 16, 2026
• Restoring Reciprocity in Government Procurement - Sept. 16, 2026
• Reinvigorating America’s Hunting Heritage - Sept. 17, 2026
• Restoring American Saltwater Angling and Recreation - Sept. 17, 2026
• Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers - Sept. 18, 2026
• Enhancing Program Integrity and Interagency Coordination in the Administration of the H-1B Nonimmigrant Visa Program - Sept. 18, 2026

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