Today on the Hill: CR Work Delayed in Senate; House Considers 34 Suspension Bills

Yesterday, the Senate again postponed a key procedural vote as negotiators continue to work on what riders will be included in the stopgap spending legislation. The cloture vote on the motion to proceed to the legislative vehicle for a continuing resolution (CR) is now scheduled for this afternoon, but there remains a possibility that it could be delayed again. Outstanding issues continue to be focused on the Planned Parenthood dilemma in relation to Zika funding, as Republicans want to ensure that no federal dollars are given to abortion-related activities in the fight against virus – which can cause microcephaly in unborn children. Other discussions involve whether to attach flood aid for Louisiana, a provision allowing the Export-Import Bank to make bigger loans without a quorum on its Board, a prohibition on the transfer of Internet domain oversight to an international body, and curbs on refugee allowances from Syria and Iraq – which may have renewed importance after the bombing attacks in the New York and New Jersey over the weekend. According to Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Democrats were able to secure the removal of a provision that would relax Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standards for anti-mosquito pesticides.

While the House waits for a CR, lawmakers will plow through 34 bills considered under suspension of the rules today, which limits debate and requires a two-thirds vote for passage. Among the items on that list are a measure that would exempt from taxes Olympic or Paralympic prize money (H.R. 5946), legislation to reauthorize federal programs to prevent juvenile delinquency (H.R. 5963) and nine Post Office naming bills. Other measures to be considered include legislation to enhance the ability of the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to obtain records (H.R. 5690) and a bill (H.R. 670) that would allow non-elderly individuals with disabilities to create special needs trusts for their own benefit. A complete list of the bills that hit the House floor today is available here.

In headline committee action today, Wells Fargo CEO John Stumpf will appear before the Senate Banking Committee in a highly anticipated hearing following the discovery that Wells Fargo employees created millions of unauthorized checking accounts to capitalize on sales incentives pushed by the company. The bank was fined a record $185 million by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and other federal regulators earlier this month, but some Democrats – led by influential Banking Committee member Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) – have already called for Wells Fargo to claw back pay of top managers. Observers are expecting Stumpf to be grilled from both parties as he makes the case that the scandal was not an “orchestrated effort” on the part of the bank’s leadership.

‘Today on the Hill’ includes updates provided by the House and Senate majority leaders, as well information derived from publications including Bloomberg Government, The Hill, Morning Consult, Kaiser Health News, Modern Healthcare, Inside Health Policy, CQ HealthBeat, and others.