Below is the federal policy team's weekly preview, published each week that Congress is in session.
HEADLINES
- The House will continue working through appropriations bills and also plans to take up legislation to reform the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
- The Senate plans to clear broad legislation addressing opioid abuse, and the debate over Judge Brett Kavanaugh's nomination to the Supreme Court continues.
- President Donald Trump travels to several states in support of Republican Senate candidates, while also considering a new round of tariffs on Chinese imports.
HOUSE
- The House will reconvene Wednesday, after the Jewish holidays, and remain in session for the balance of the week. Members will consider legislation to suspend the ACA employer health insurance mandate and to delay the "Cadillac" tax on high-cost plans. The House will also continue its work on annual spending legislation.
- The House Ways and Means Committee plans to take up "Tax Reform 2.0," making last year's individual tax cuts permanent. Leaders plan to push for a vote by the full House, but it won't be taken up in the Senate before the election.
- The Veterans' Affairs (VA) Committee will hold hearings on improving government services for veterans and on electronic health records in the VA.
- A full listing of House committee activity can be found here.
SENATE
- The Senate also will be in session Wednesday through Friday. The chamber will take up the nomination of Charles Rettig to be IRS commissioner and also plans to vote on a package of measures addressing opioid abuse.
- Senators are considering their votes on Kavanaugh's Supreme Court nomination, and several, including Democrats facing difficult elections in November, may announce their decisions this week. The Judiciary Committee has not scheduled a date for a vote.
- The Senate Agriculture Committee will hold a hearing on agricultural trade.
- The current listing of Senate committee activity can be found here.
WHITE HOUSE
- On Tuesday, the 17th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, Trump and First Lady Melania Trump will honor the heroes of United Airlines Flight 93 in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
- Trump will travel to Cape Girardeau, Missouri, on Thursday to stump for GOP Senate candidate Josh Hawley.
- On Friday, Trump will be in Jackson, Mississippi, supporting the re-election of Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, R-Miss.
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