CLEMSON ON CAPITOL HILL
Legislative Activity This Week
The Senate will convene today at 3:00pm. The House will meet at 12:00pm for morning hour and at 2:00pm for legislative business, with votes postponed until 6:30pm.
Senate Appropriations
On April 14th, The Senate Appropriations Committee released the FY17 spending allocations for its 12 Appropriations Subcommittees and approved the Military Construction-Veterans Affairs and Energy and Water appropriations bills. The Energy and Water appropriations bill is expected to be debated on the Senate floor this week.
In the absence of the budget resolution, the Senate is expected to approve a “deeming” resolution this week that sets FY17 discretionary spending at the level approved in last year’s two-year budget deal. House GOP leadership had hoped to work out a deal on the FY17 budget resolution with their conservative colleagues who want additional cuts, but were unable to reach an agreement. Absent an agreement, budget rules will allow House appropriations bills to go to the floor beginning May 15th.
House Agriculture Appropriations Bill
Currently, the House version of the Agriculture Appropriations Bill that was approved in subcommittee last week includes $375 million for the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI), a $25 million increase from FY16. AFRI is the Department of Agriculture’s premiere competitive research program.
Upcoming Hearings
– April 19th – Senate Appropriations Subcommittee mark-up of the FY17 Commerce, Science, Justice and Related Agencies Act
– April 19th – Senate Appropriations Subcommittee mark-up of the FY17Transportation, Housing, Urban Development and Related Agencies Act
– April 19th – House Appropriations Committee mark-up of FY17 Agriculture and Energy and Water appropriations bills
– April 20th – Senate Appropriations Subcommittee hearing to review the FY17 budget request for Defense Innovation and Research
– April 21st – Full Senate Appropriations Committee meets
Click here to see the STATE UPDATE for April 18, 2016.