Budget Reconciliation Week in the Senate, Byrd Rule Problems Throw a Wrench in GOP Plans, House Has SCORE Act and Much More on Its Agenda
Jason Pye - Vice President, Due Process Institute
Nominations and reconciliation legislation in the Senate: The Senate convenes today at 3:00 pm. Before the Senate left town last week, cloture was invoked on S.Res. 690, an en bloc of 49 nominations. A vote is expected at 5:30 pm to confirm those nominees. We do expect the Senate to get into the budget reconciliation bill this week. The Senate Budget Committee will markup the reconciliation bill on Wednesday, beginning at 9:30 am. We’ll see another vote-a-rama in the chamber before a vote on final passage.
Republicans have run into some problems on reconciliation: The Senate parliamentarian has advised Republicans that three sections of the recommendations from the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee (HSGAC) violate the Byrd rule because they fall outside of HSGAC’s jurisdiction. The $1 billion of funding for the East Wing ballroom in the Judiciary Committee’s recommendations also violates the Byrd rule for the same reason. Republicans hope to get around these rulings by making language changes that comply with the Byrd rule.
Senate committee schedule: The full Senate committee schedule for the week is here. If you’re interested in watching any of these hearings online, you can find committee websites here.
Schedule and suspensions in the House: The House returns on Tuesday at 2:00 pm for legislative business. Any request for a recorded vote will be postponed, likely until Wednesday. The House will also be in session on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. The time and day of the last votes for the week are to be determined. Sixteen (16) bills are expected to be considered under the suspension of the rules (listed below). The cost estimates for those bills are available here.
S. 4530, To amend chapters 83 and 84 of title 5, United States Code, to authorize an increase of the retirement age for members of the Capitol Police. (House Administration Committee)
H.R. 7432, Foster Youth Housing Opportunity Act (Ways and Means Committee)
H.R. 6506, Taxpayer Due Process Enhancement Act (Ways and Means Committee)
H.R. 2252, North Dakota Trust Lands Completion Act (Natural Resources Committee)
H.R. 4684, Star-Spangled Summit Act (Natural Resources Committee)
H.R. 1352, To designate the General George C. Marshall House, in the Commonwealth of Virginia, as an affiliated area of the National Park System, and for other purposes. (Natural Resources Committee)
H.R. 785, Representing our Seniors at VA Act (Veterans’ Affairs Committee)
H.R. 3482, Veterans Community Care Scheduling Improvement Act (Veterans’ Affairs Committee)
H.R. 3726, Fisher House Availability Act (Veterans’ Affairs Committee)
S. 2393, Fiscal Year 2025 Veterans Affairs Major Medical Facility Authorization Act (Veterans’ Affairs Committee)
H.R. 2954, Veterans’ Transition to Trucking Act (Veterans’ Affairs Committee)
H.R. 1993, 25th Anniversary of 9/11 Commemorative Coin Act (Financial Services Committee)
H.R. 3234, Keeping Deposits Local Act (Financial Services Committee)
H.R. 4544, American Access to Banking Act (Financial Services Committee)
H.R. 5317, Community Bank Deposit Access Act (Financial Services Committee)
H.R. 6644, 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act (Financial Services Committee)
Bills that come to the floor under suspension of the rules require two-thirds of members present and voting for passage. This is the most common way that bills considered by the House come to the floor. Some of these bills may be passed by a voice vote, rather than a roll call vote. Most bills that come to the floor under suspension aren’t widely considered controversial, although leadership may occasionally test a bill under suspension to gauge opposition or sneak a bill through the chamber.
Rule bills: The House Rules Committee will meet on Tuesday at 12:00 pm to markup the rule providing for the consideration of the Veterans 2nd Amendment Protection Act, H.R. 1041; the Sharri Briley and Eric Edmundson Veterans Benefits Expansion Act, H.R. 6047; the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum Act, H.R. 1329; and the SCORE Act, H.R. 4312.
A few quick notes: The SCORE Act, which provides a framework for college athletes’ NIL deals, was originally on the calendar for the week of December 1, 2025. It was pulled after criticism from both sides of the aisle. At least some criticism remains, but the lobbying effort to pass the SCORE Act is very strong. Another bill that was on the weekly schedule is the Stopping Indoctrination and Protecting Kids Act (PROTECT Kids Act), H.R. 2616, but it’s not on the Rules Committee notice. The House is expected to consider another War Powers Resolution to terminate hostilities with Iran. This one is H.Con.Res. 86. It’s the fourth time (I’ve lost count between the House and the Senate votes on this) that the House has considered an Iran WPR. Last week’s effort failed by a 212 to 212 vote. Finally, if the Senate gets the reconciliation bill done this week, the House could stay over the weekend to finish it. Trump has said that he wants the reconciliation bill on his desk by June 1. The House is in recess next week. If it’s going to get done, extending the work week into the weekend is the easiest path forward. Of course, that’s if the Senate gets its work done.
Highway bill is looming: House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Sam Graves (R-MO) and Ranking Member Rick Larsen (D-WA) have come to an agreement on the next highway bill, the BUILD America 250 Act. The reported cost is $580 billion.
House committee schedule: The full House committee schedule for the week is here. If you’re interested in watching any of these hearings online, you can find committee websites here.