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
On Tuesday, July 15, the Senate voted 51-50, with Vice President JD Vance casting the tie-breaking vote, on the motion to proceed with debate on H.R.4, the Rescission Act of 2025. Democrats used 10 hours of the statutorily...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
THIS WEEK’S DOSE - - President Trumps signs OBBBA into law. After months of debate, Congress passed and President Trump signed H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), into law on July 4, 2025. - Senate HELP...more
In Brief - - The Senate passed H.R. 1, as amended, 51-50 on July 1, 2025 (legislative day began on June 30, 2025). Vice President JD Vance broke the tie by voting for the measure and presiding over the closing of the vote....more
On June 16, 2025, the U.S. Senate released its version of the budget reconciliation bill (“Senate bill”), making several changes to the House-passed version from May 22, 2025 (“House bill”). One major difference is the cap on...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 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
On May 15, 2025, the House released the draft FY 2025 budget bill. As currently drafted, the budget bill does not limit or otherwise change the tax treatment of carried interest. Following the release of the budget bill,...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
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
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
On Thursday, April 3, the Senate voted 52-48 on the motion to proceed with debate on H.Con.Res.14, the Senate’s new fiscal year (FY) 2025 budget resolution, triggering a statutorily required 20 hours of debate. Both the House...more
The Senate approved S.Con.Res.7 in the early morning hours of Friday, Feb. 21, concluding a vote-a-rama that began the night before and lasted over 10 hours. The final vote was 52-48, with Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) joining...more
On Wednesday Feb. 12, the Senate Budget Committee advanced a fiscal year (FY) 2025 budget resolution by a vote of 11-10. The Senate voted to move forward with debate on the resolution on Tuesday, Feb. 18, triggering a...more
The Senate is in session this week, but the House is in recess. It is anticipated that the Senate may begin floor work on its budget resolution this week, culminating in a “vote-a-rama,” which is a series of votes on...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
Look Ahead to the Week of June 17: Senate Continues to Focus on Nominees - Only the Senate will be in session this week. However, it will not be in session on Wednesday for the Juneteenth federal holiday. While in session,...more
Look Ahead to the Week of April 22: Senate Cancels Recess - The House is out, but the Senate will be in session this week after canceling its recess to vote on supplemental foreign aid legislation....more
Both the House and Senate are in session this week to kick off the 118th Congress. The Senate will meet on Monday to swear in the members who won their elections in the fall. Senator Ben Sasse (R-NE) also plans to give his...more
On Dec. 20, the Senate Appropriations Committee released the text of the $1.7 trillion fiscal year (FY) 2023 omnibus appropriations bill. The package includes $858 billion in defense spending, a $76 billion or approximately...more