Both the House and Senate are in using the Fourth of July as a district work period. Congress will return Monday, July 6th to continue working on the FY16 Appropriations process!
Happy Fourth of July!
Author: Sarah Castro
Reviewed 9/22
OMB Writes Letter of Concern about Senate FY16 CJS
The White House Office of Management and Budget Director Shaun Donovan has issued another letter on the FY16 appropriations proposal currently working their way though Congress. Today, Director Donovan’s letter was addressed to the Senate and expressed concern over the Senate’s FY16 CJS spending bill. The letter outlines concerns about underfunding the important investments in a diverse set of agencies and programs (from science agencies like NSF and NOAA to law enforcement as well as the census) and includes highly problematic ideological riders. Over all the letter echo previously seen concerns about Congress crafting these bills in accordance to sequestration funding limitations, while not working on a FY16 budget that would supplant the sequester.
Specically, the letter outlines concerns for maintaining our nation’s ability and capacity at science-focused agencies.
- The bill cuts the President’s Budget by $245 million, or 64 percent, for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) next generation ofpolar-orbiting weather satellites which puts the continuity of the polar weather observations at substantial risk.
- The bill underfunds the National Science Foundation, providing $380 million, or 5 percent, less than the President’s Budget for an agency that carries a major share of the Federal Government’s responsibility to support basic research in science and engineering-research that produces the seed com on which future innovation depends, but by its nature is too uncertain in ultimate application to attract private-sector funding. Compared to the President’s Budget, the bill would lead to about 700 fewer research grants, affecting about 9,100 researchers, technicians, and students.
What We’re Reading This Week, June 22-26
Here is a selection of articles the Federal Relations team is reading this week.
OPM, Oh, No! – In the wake of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) data breach and less than stellar performance (more disastrous and painful to watch) OPM performance at last week’s House Oversight and Government Reform hearing about the breach last week, OPM Director Katherine Archuleta still employed, despite speculation that the Administration might use the traditional time for dumping embarrassing and unpleasant news to announce her departure. Atchuleta is expected to testify in additional hearing this week (Senate Appropriations, House Oversight for a second time, and Senate Homeland Security). Read more about the two attacks and fall out at the New York Times.
King v. Burwell – The Supreme Court is wrapping up its session this week and one of the most highly anticipated decisions is King v. Burwell, a case that challenged the (highly popular) federal health care subsidy. The potential impacts could be far reaching and diversely impacting. The New York Times has an excellent walk-through of who would be impacted and how.
UPDATE: The Court, with a 6-3 ruling, has upheld the subsidies, Moreover, the majority opinion was written by Chief Justice Roberts. The high court ruled that the health care law as written does allow residents of states using the federal insurance exchange to receive premium subsidies for their coverage – an outcome that saves subsidies for 6.4 million people.
The ruling is a huge win for the Administration and massive set back Congressional Republicans on their repeal ObamaCare agenda. Read more at Politico. Read the opinion here. Read more about Obama’s AWESOME week in Roll Call.
Pay for Performance – Financial support for college students has long been based on how well they perform in the classroom. Now, for public colleges and universities, it’s their turn to be graded. From Maine to Hawaii, some 36 states are allocating money for higher education based, in part, on performance measures designed to reward schools that raise graduation rates, award more high-tech degrees and better prepare students for the job market. Read more at CNBC.
Flag – In a rough week for the nation, South Caroline, and noncommittal Republican presidential candidates (all for very different reasons), South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley with Senators Tim Scott and Lindsay Graham announced the removal of the Confederate flag from the state house grounds. Politico has more on how the decision was made and how the Republican party nationally is becoming more comfortable with making these easy decisions.
GI Bill – On June 22, 1944, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Servicemen’s Readjustment Act, better known as the GI Bill. Fearing the consequences of millions of veterans returning from war to scarce employment and housing opportunities, Roosevelt passed the legislation to offer unemployment compensation, home and business loans and tuition support. The GI Bill radically changed access to higher education. Read more at Time.
Trolling – With the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau reporting a spike in debt relief companies skirting the law online, the bureau is calling on Google, Yahoo, Facebook and Bing to stop scam artists from using their search engines to target struggling borrowers. Read more at the Washington Post.
Puff, Puff, Not Gonna Pass – Most of the medical conditions that marijuana is prescribed to treat under state laws would never pass muster if pot were put through the rigor of FDA approval like a typical drug, according to a review in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Read more at the LA Times.
Career Path – On Capitol Hill, there are essentially two different tracks to take: policy or communications. Both jobs come with plusses and minuses, and need to work together, but what is the best direction to focus on for those looking to work their way to the top (of the proverbial) heap and become a Chief of Staff? Roll Call has some answers.
Senate Appropriations Committee Passes FY16 Labor-H
Today, the Senate Appropriations Committee passed it’s FY16 Labor-H bill by a vote of 16-14. The Senate draft would cut spending from the 2015 enacted level by almost $4 billion to $153 billion and is $14.5 billion below President Barack Obama’s request. The bill would eliminate funding for the Independent Payment Advisory Board, created by the 2010 health law (PL 111-148, PL 111-152) to recommend Medicare spending cuts under certain circumstances.
Both the House and Senate FY16 Labor-H proposals are now cleared to be considered by their respective bodies. There is no timeline on when the Senate would begin consideration of its draft.
House Committee Passes FY16 Labor-H
The House Appropriations Committee passed it’s FY16 Labor-H bill by a vote of 30-21. The passage came after hours of debate during which Democrats bitterly criticized funding levels for domestic discretionary accounts and saw a series of their amendments defeated. The bill is $3.7 billion below fiscal 2015 enacted levels and $14.6 billion below President Barack Obama’s budget request. It contains increased funding for the National Institutes of Health but would block new discretionary spending to implement the Affordable Care Act. Additionally, the Administration has issued a letter of concern about the legislation. It is speculated that an official veto threat will not be far behind.
The legislation is expected to be considered on the House Floor after the Fourth of July Recess.