The Senate will not convene until 2:30 P.M. today as Senate Republicans will meet at the Library of Congress to discuss where things stand with President Donald J. Trump’s “one, big beautiful bill.” The Senate GOP conference is set to hold the 4-hour policy retreat across the street from the Capitol building as Conservatives are demanding a minimum of $1 trillion in spending cuts, moderates are refusing to take a hatchet to Medicaid, President Trump keeps adding new tax priorities— and the clock is ticking towards Memorial Day. David Sacks will be a guest speaker- Trump’s crypto and AI czar will talk with senators as leadership pushes forward on a bipartisan crypto bill this week, despite growing Democratic resistance. Senators will also hear from committee chairs involved in the reconciliation process, including twice from Finance Chair Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) — first on Medicaid and then on taxes. It comes the same day Senate Democrats will hear from New York Times columnist Ezra Klein and Democratic data guru David Shor at their own retreat.
Later today, the Senate is expected to take up passage of Cal. #69, S.J.Res.13, disapproving the rule submitted by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency of the Department of the Treasury relating to the review of applications under the Bank Merger Act.
The House will meet at 12:00 P.M. for legislative business and will take up H.R. 881 – DHS Restrictions on Confucius Institutes and Chinese Entities of Concern Act as well as one postponed suspension, H.R. 1503 – Stop Forced Organ Harvesting Act of 2025.
While all this plays out, the House Appropriations Committee will continue hearings on the FY 2026 budget focusing on requests for the Energy Department with testimony from Secretary Chris Wright at 10 A.M; USDA with testimony from Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins at 10:30 A.M; the FBI with testimony from FBI Director Kash Patel at 2 P.M; and FEMA with testimony from Acting FEMA Director Cam Hamilton at 2 P.M.
