Today on the Hill: Disaster Relief Deal Remains Elusive

The prospects for a bipartisan disaster aid agreement dwindled late yesterday after negotiators were unable to reach an agreement that would allocate funding to help states recover from recent natural disasters. Despite making progress on disagreements over aid for Puerto Rico and boosting the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund, negotiators have yet to strike a deal that would address funding for humanitarian needs at the southern border. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) reiterated this morning that the Senate will not leave for the Memorial Day district work period until the chamber votes on a disaster relief bill. However, a final deal between Senate Republicans and House Democrats will likely come after lawmakers return to Washington.

Meanwhile, House lawmakers will close out the week with consideration of a bipartisan retirement measure out of the Ways and Means committee. The comprehensive retirement savings package (H.R. 1994) up for consideration seeks to: (1) boost incentives for retirement savings; (2) allow small businesses to band together and start multi-employer 401(k)s; and (3) provide retirement eligibility for part-time workers who have worked at least 1,000 hours in one year. The measure is expected to pass the House later today and is expected to be considered at some point in the Senate, where Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-OR) have been working on a similar retirement overhaul measure (S. 974)