July 3, 2014
The House and Senate were in recess this week.
FY2015 Appropriations
Lawmakers are now talking about not if but when a continuing resolution (CR) will be needed to keep the government running after Sept 30. While the House has passed five of the 12 annual spending bills, the Senate stalled on their first minibus bill they brought to the floor. The CR would likely fund the government through the November elections, but what happens during the lame duck session depends on the results of the election. If the Republicans take control of the Senate they may opt to pass another CR so that they could assert their greater influence when they have control of both houses of Congress.
FY2015 Appropriations Bill Status
| Appropriations Subcommittee | House Action | Senate Action |
| Agriculture, Rural Development, FDA and Related Agencies | Subcommittee: May 20
Full Committee: May 29 Floor: postponed |
Subcommittee: May 20
Full Committee: May 22 Floor: postponed |
| Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies | Subcommittee: April 30
Full Committee: May 8 House Floor: May 29 |
Subcommittee: June 3
Full Committee: June 5 Floor: postponed |
| Defense | Subcommittee: May 30
Full Committee: June 10 Floor: June 20 |
Subcommittee: July 17 |
| Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies | Subcommittee: June 10
Full Committee: June 18 House Floor: Week of July 7 |
Subcommittee: June 17
Full Committee: postponed |
| Financial Services and General Government | Subcommittee: June 18
Full Committee: June 25 |
Subcommittee: June 24 |
| Homeland Security | Subcommittee: May 28
Full Committee: June 11 |
Subcommittee: June 24
Full Committee: June 26 |
| Interior | Subcommittee: July 9 | |
| Labor, HHS, Education, and Related Agencies | Subcommittee: June 10
Full Committee: postponed |
|
| Legislative Branch | Subcommittee: April 3
Full Committee: April 9 Floor: May 1 |
Full Committee: June 19 |
| Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies | Subcommittee: April 3
Full Committee: April 9 Floor: April 30 |
Subcommittee: May 20
Full Committee: May 22 |
| State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs | Subcommittee: June 17
Full Committee: June 24 |
Subcommittee: June 17
Full Committee: June 19 |
| Transportation, HUD, and Related Agencies | Subcommittee: May 7
Full Committee: May 21 Floor: June 10 |
Subcommittee: June 3
Full Committee: June 5 Floor: postponed |
Political Updates
President Obama nominated Robert McDonald to succeed Eric Shinseki as secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs. McDonald is the retired Chairman of the Board, President and CEO of The Proctor and Gamble Company. He is credited with overseeing a major expansion of the company during his tenure. McDonald is a West Point graduate and served as a Captain in the US Army for five years, primarily in the 82nd Airborne division.
Rep. Vance McAllister (R-LA) announced this week that he would seek re-election in November. After leaked security camera footage showed the married congressman kissing an aide earlier this year, he announced that he would not run again for the seat. He recanted that decision a few weeks later. He has until Aug 22 to file the necessary paperwork. Several other Republicans have announced their intentions to run for the seat, including Zach Dasher, cousin of “Duck Dynasty” star Willie Robertson. McAllister was originally elected to the seat in a special election on Nov 16, 2013 to fill the seat vacated by Rep. Rodney Alexander. He has seats on the Agriculture and Natural Resources committees.
Next Week
The House and Senate return from their July 4th recess next week. The House will take up HR 803, the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, HR 4923, the FY15 Energy and Water Appropriations Act, and HR 4718, a bill making the bonus depreciation permanent.