The House and Senate are both in session today as both chambers try to wrap up work this week before the long August recess scheduled to begin on Friday.
House Republicans face an uphill battle this week passing their first two fiscal 2024 spending bills, with hardline demands for lower spending levels threatening to divide Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s (R-California) narrow majority. Republican hopes of gaining the upper hand against the Democratic-led Senate over government spending for the next fiscal year will face their first test this afternoon, with a procedural vote on a military construction and veterans affairs appropriations bill, H.R. 4366, that conservative lawmakers say should be popular enough to pass in a party line vote. The list of amendments made in order can be found HERE. The Rule allows for amendments to be offered en bloc.
But a second appropriations bill to fund agriculture programs, rural development initiatives and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for fiscal year 2024, which begins October 1st, could have trouble making it to the chamber floor for a vote amid hardliners spending concerns. Members of the ultra-conservative House Freedom Caucus, who want next year’s spending at the $1.47 trillion level seen in fiscal 2022, put party leaders on notice this week that they reject efforts to use previously appropriated funds to move spending closer to the $1.59 trillion agreed by Speaker McCarthy and President Joe Biden in June. Biden on Monday vowed to veto the Republican spending bills if they make it to his desk, saying they backed away from the deal. Both the House and the Senate would have to agree to any final legislation before sending it to the president.
The Senate will resume consideration of S.2226, FY2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) with the goal of completing work this week. The Senate FY2024 NDAA authorizes $845 billion for the DoD and $32 billion for national security programs within the Department of Energy (DOE). The bill authorizes critical investments in military technologies and platforms, delivers a 5.2 percent pay raise to America’s servicemembers, and ensures the joint force has the capabilities, equipment, and training it needs to accomplish its missions. Consideration of the bill began in the full Senate on July 18, with debate on the first 51 amendments introduced beginning July 19. The Senate Armed Services Committee advanced its version of the bill to the full Senate on June 23 by a vote of 24-1.
The House may also consider three bills under suspension of the Rules today.
