Congress returns from recess with a pressing fiscal deadline: The upcoming year’s federal spending legislation must be passed before Oct. 1 to avoid a government shutdown, and significant differences remain between the House and Senate versions of the legislation.
The House and Senate have a $15 billion difference in their respective spending bills for Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies, with the House proposing a 7 percent cut to the Department of Health and Human Services. The two chambers also are at odds over appropriate funding for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the structure of the National Institutes of Health.
A stopgap funding bill — a continuing resolution (CR) — is likely, but details of such a measure remain to be negotiated. Health care is unlikely to be a major focus of the September CR debate, as Congress already extended many health care provisions through the end of 2024.
Committee Activity This Week
August recess is over, and both the House and Senate will convene for session on Monday through Thursday this week, with just the latter continuing through Friday.
The House Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health will meet Sept. 10, at 10 am ET, for a hearing, “Evaluating FDA Human Foods and Tobacco Programs.” The committee’s Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations will hold a hearing Sept. 11, at 10:30 am ET, titled, “A Year Removed: Oversight of Securing the U.S. Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network Act Implementation.”
The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions will hold a hearing Sept. 12, at 10 am ET, titled, “Examining the Bankruptcy of Steward Health Care: How Management Decisions Have Impacted Patient Care.”
Join the Federal Action Network Today!
Stay connected to the latest from Washington. Join our Federal Action Network (FAN) — free for members — and gain exclusive access to advocacy expertise and updates.
Author