The Senate approved a revised version of H.R.4, the Rescission Act of 2025 on July 17, concluding a vote-a-rama that began the morning of July 16 and lasted 13 hours. Senators took roll call votes on 17 amendments and motions...more
Below is this week’s congressional update by BakerHostetler’s Federal Policy team. We’ll continue to post in weeks when both chambers of Congress are in session....more
Welcome to what technically was supposed to be a congressional recess week in advance of the Fourth of July. The Fourth also has been Republicans’ internal deadline for having a reconciliation package on the president’s desk,...more
Staff from U.S. Senate committees held meetings with the Senate parliamentarian over the weekend of June 20-22, 2025, to complete the "Byrd bath," a process by which committee staff make their case to the Senate...more
Over the last week, the Senate Finance Committee and Senate Agriculture Committee released their portions of reconciliation text, which includes most of the Medicaid and food insecurity provisions. The Senate committees will...more
The U.S. Senate will likely release additional sections of the reconciliation package this week. It is unlikely the Senate Committee on Finance, which has jurisdiction over Medicaid, will hold a markup on its portion of the...more
Both chambers are in session this week. Senate Republicans will continue to revise the House-passed reconciliation package. Disagreements remain over the overall size of the package as well as a host of outstanding issues...more
Both chambers are in session this week after the Memorial Day recess. The Senate will begin putting its mark on the House-passed reconciliation package, evaluating what sections will likely not survive the parliamentarian’s...more
Congress is back from recess this week, and focus is on the Senate’s consideration of the House-passed reconciliation bill. Much of this work – for example, ensuring that provisions are consistent with the Byrd Rule – will be...more
Short Congressional Recess, Short Preview - While Congress is in recess this week, we are still on reconciliation watch as consideration of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act moves to the Senate. We are on the lookout for a...more
MAHA and More Medicaid - Late Sunday night, May 18, 2025, the House Budget Committee voted to advance the reconciliation package drafted by the Energy and Commerce Committee and Ways and Means Committee last week. The four...more
Reconciliation Hits a Speedbump - As of May 6, 2025, it will not be what was anticipated on Capitol Hill. Multiple committees, including the House Energy and Commerce Committee, reportedly had planned to spend this week...more
THIS WEEK’S DOSE - - House Committees Begin Reconciliation Markups. Non-health-related committees moved forward this week, with the House Energy and Commerce Committee tentatively scheduled to mark up its legislative text in...more
Each week while Congress is in session, our Policy team delivers a key update to highlight a topical benefits, health, or retirement news item from the Hill, such as a newly introduced bill, a summary of a committee hearing,...more
Final Week Before Easter Recess - Focus this week on Capitol Hill will remain on reconciliation, as Republicans aim to pass the unified budget resolution in the House before leaving on Thursday for the two-week Easter...more
The Senate approved H.Con.Res.14 in the early morning hours of Saturday, April 5, concluding a vote-a-rama that began the night before and lasted over 5 hours. The final vote was 51-48, with Sens. Rand Paul (R-KY) and Susan...more
Both the House and Senate are in session this week as the 119th Congress kicks into gear, after formally being sworn in on Friday, January 3. Over the weekend, Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) announced his intent for the House...more
118th Congress Wraps Up - Congress has five days to complete remaining business before the December 20 government funding deadline. It is still expected that the government will be funded via a short-term continuing...more
Congress is back in session with a loaded agenda for the lame duck period. One of the top issues the life sciences industry is tracking is the potential passage of the BIOSECURE Act. Speaker Johnson has signaled the House...more
Senate HELP Committee Holds Hearing on Medical Debt. The hearing examined the negative impacts of medical debt and explored potential solutions to address the growing issue. Senators and witnesses highlighted the disparity...more
House Ways & Means Health Subcommittee Holds Hearing on Value-Based Care. The hearing examined the challenges and opportunities associated with delivering better health outcomes and Medicare savings through value-based care....more
Congress Tackles Defense, Reproductive Health in Busy Week Ahead Congress is in session Tuesday through Friday of this week, and it is sure to be a politically charged few days. The House is bringing forth the 2025 National...more
Congress is back in session this week, with the House in today and the Senate returning tomorrow. They are back for a four-week stretch until the Memorial Day recess break. Congress has already moved many of the major bills...more
CONGRESS AWAY, ADMINISTRATION STILL IN PLAY - Congress is mostly in recess this week, with the exception of the Senate returning on Tuesday, April 23, to consider the House-passed foreign aid package. Thus there are no...more