Legislative Notices
Currently showing results related to Health Care. See all results
Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute to H.R.5376 – Build Back Better Act
NOTEWORTHY Bill Status: Democrats’ fiscal year 2022 budget resolution contained $1.75 trillion in reconciliation instructions to 13 House and 12 Senate committees. The substitute amendment to H.R.5376, which the Democrats are calling the Inflation Reduction Act, would enact their reckless tax and spend spree. H.R.5376 passed the House by a vote of 220-213 on November 19. The Senate may consider the bill on the floor in August. Overview of the Issue: A budget reconciliation bill is a... Continue Reading
June 22, 2022
S.2938 – The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act
NOTEWORTHY Bill Status: The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act was introduced June 21 by a bipartisan group of senators led by Senators Cornyn and Tillis on the Republican side, and Senators Murphy and Sinema on the Democratic side. The Senate voted 64-34 June 21 to proceed to a House message that will serve as the shell for the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. On June 21, Majority Leader Schumer filed cloture on the motion to concur in the House amendment to the shell, with the text of the... Continue Reading
June 3, 2022
Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute to H.R.3967 – SFC Heath Robinson Honoring Our Pact Act
NOTEWORTHY Bill Status: H.R.3967 passed the House on March 3 by a vote of 256-174. On May 26, Senate Majority Leader Schumer filed cloture on the motion to proceed to the bill. The Senate is expected to consider the amendment in the nature of a substitute to H.R.3967 the week of June 6. Overview of the Issue: During deployment to a war zone, military personnel are often exposed to toxic hazards, many of which have been associated with chronic health issues, such as cancer and respiratory... Continue Reading
March 9, 2022
The House Amendment to the Senate Amendment to H.R.2471 – Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022
NOTEWORTHY Bill Status: The House message to H.R.2471, as amended, is expected to pass the House on March 9. The Senate is expected to vote on the measure this week. A House message is privileged. The motion to proceed is not debatable, and 60 votes are required to end debate on the measure. Overview of the Issue: The federal government’s new fiscal year began October 1, 2021, but Congress has not yet completed action on the 12 annual funding measures. The government is currently... Continue Reading
February 24, 2022
H.R.3076 – Postal Service Reform Act of 2022
NOTEWORTHY Background: H.R.3076, Postal Service Reform Act of 2022, was introduced in the House on May 11, 2021. The House Committee on Oversight and Reform and the House Rules Committee advanced the bill on February 7 by voice vote. The bill passed the House on February 8 by a vote of 342-92. Floor Situation: The Senate could consider H.R.3076 as early as the week of February 14. Executive Summary: H.R.3076 makes reforms intended to increase the financial stability and reliability of the U.S.... Continue Reading
November 22, 2021
H.R. 5376 – Build Back Better Act
NOTEWORTHY Background: Democrats’ fiscal year 2022 budget resolution contained $1.75 trillion in reconciliation instructions to 13 House and 12 Senate committees. H.R.5376 would enact their reckless tax and spend spree. H.R.5376 passed the House by a vote of 220-213 on November 19. A budget reconciliation bill is a privileged piece of legislation. The motion to proceed is not debatable and requires only a simple majority. The Budget Act provides for 20 hours of debate on reconciliation... Continue Reading
August 9, 2021
S.Conn.Res.14 – Concurrent Resolution on the Budget for Fiscal Year 2022
NOTEWORTHY Background: A budget resolution is a privileged piece of legislation. It is not subject to filibuster, and debate time is limited to 50 hours, equally divided. Amendments to the budget resolution must be germane and are subject to a simple majority vote threshold. A senator can raise a point of order against an amendment that violates the Budget Act; a motion to waive that point of order would require 60 votes. Once all debate time has been used or yielded back, senators may continue... Continue Reading
August 3, 2021
H.R. 3684 – Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act
NOTEWORTHY Background: The federal government has supported infrastructure across a variety of sectors through a range of programs. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act includes support for roads, bridges, passenger and freight rail, transportation safety, transit, broadband, ports and waterways, airports, drinking water and wastewater, and energy, among other initiatives. Floor Situation: The Senate is expected to consider the bill this week. Cloture on the motion to proceed to the... Continue Reading
March 1, 2021
H.R.1319 – American Rescue Plan Act of 2021
NOTEWORTHY Background: The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 is being considered under the budget reconciliation process. The fiscal year 2021 budget resolution, which passed the House by a vote of 219-209 and passed the Senate on a party-line vote of 51-50, with the vice president breaking a tie, included reconciliation instructions for 12 House committees and 11 Senate committees. The House committees reported legislation in February that was combined into the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.... Continue Reading
October 9, 2018
S.J. Res. 63 – Disapproval of Short-Term Limited Duration Insurance Rule
NOTEWORTHY Background: Senator Baldwin introduced S.J.Res. 63, a joint resolution of congressional disapproval under the Congressional Review Act of the final rule to deregulate short-term limited duration plans. The resolution currently has the support of all 49 Senate Democrats. Floor Situation: The Senate is expected to conduct a roll call vote on the motion to proceed to S.J.Res. 63 this week. This vote is a simple majority threshold. Executive Summary: The resolution disapproves a final... Continue Reading
October 2, 2018
H.R. 6 – Support for Patients and Communities Act
NOTEWORTHY Background: On September 17, 2018, the Senate passed an amendment in the form of a substitute to H.R. 6 by a vote of 99-1. The House of Representatives passed H.R. 6 on September 28, 2018, by a vote of 393-8. Floor Situation: The Senate will likely consider H.R. 6 soon. Executive Summary: The House and Senate have advanced bipartisan legislation to address the opioid problem. The final bill authorizes critical funding to assist states, expands patient access to addiction... Continue Reading
September 25, 2018
H.R. 302 (as amended), FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018
NOTEWORTHY Background: The current Federal Aviation Administration authorization law expires September 30. H.R. 302, as amended, is a pre-conference agreement on the FAA reauthorization and additional measures. The Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee approved its FAA reauthorization bill, S. 1405, by voice vote on June 29, 2017, and reported it on May 9, 2018. The House passed its version of an FAA reauthorization bill, H.R. 4, on April 27 by a vote of 393-13. Floor... Continue Reading
September 13, 2018
S. 2554 – Patient Right to Know Drug Prices Act
NOTEWORTHY Background: The Patient Right to Know Drug Prices Act, legislation sponsored by Senators Collins and McCaskill, would prohibit the use of “gag clauses” in contracts for employer-sponsored and individual health insurance plans. The bill was introduced on March 14, 2018, and reported out of the HELP committee by voice vote on July 25, 2018. Floor Situation: The Senate will vote on the bill Monday, September 17. Executive Summary: The bill would ban the inclusion of pharmacy... Continue Reading
September 10, 2018
Senate Amendment to H.R. 6, The Opioid Crisis Response Act of 2018
NOTEWORTHY Background: The HELP, Finance, Judiciary, and Commerce committees have advanced bipartisan legislation to combat the opioid crisis. The bill is an amendment in the form of a substitute to H.R. 6, which the House passed in June. Read RPC’s recent paper on the opioid problem here. Floor Situation: The Senate may begin consideration of this legislation the week of September 10. Executive Summary: The legislation reauthorizes and expands state... Continue Reading
August 10, 2018
Vehicle for Department of Defense and Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations
NOTEWORTHY Background: The House passed H.R. 6157, the Department of Defense appropriations act for fiscal year 2019, on June 28, 2018, by a vote of 359-49. The House has not considered H.R. 6470, the House version of the Labor-HHS-Education appropriations bill on the floor. It is expected that the Senate will join the Senate Appropriations Committee versions of the Defense and Labor-HHS-Education bills together for consideration on the floor. Both bills passed the committee on 30-1 votes. Floor... Continue Reading
June 19, 2018
H.R. 3 – Spending Cuts To Expired And Unnecessary Programs Act
NOTEWORTHY Background: H.R. 3 was introduced on May 9, 2018, one day after the president transmitted a rescission proposal to Congress. The bill passed the House on June 7 by a vote of 210-206. Text of the bill as it passed the House is available here. Text of the president’s rescission messages are available from the Office of Management and Budget: original and supplemental messages. Floor Situation: The Senate may vote in relation to the motion to proceed to the bill during the week of... Continue Reading
May 21, 2018
S.2372 – VA Mission Act of 2018
NOTEWORTHY Background: The House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed its amendment to S.2372, the John S. McCain III, Daniel K. Akaka, and Samuel R. Johnson VA Maintaining Internal Systems and Strengthening Integrated Outside Networks Act (VA MISSION Act) of 2018, by a vote of 347 to 70. This bill was negotiated between the House and Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committees. Floor Situation: On May 17, Majority Leader McConnell filed cloture on the motion to concur in the House Amendment... Continue Reading
March 22, 2018
Bipartisan Health Care Stabilization Act Of 2018
NOTEWORTHY Background: The Bipartisan Health Care Stabilization Act of 2018 would temporarily fund cost-sharing reduction subsidies and risk mitigation programs, and make other changes to Obamacare. The first draft of the bill was released on October 19, 2017, as an agreement between Senators Alexander and Murray with 24 cosponsors: 12 Republicans and 12 Democrats. The Lower Premiums Through Reinsurance Act of 2017 has since been incorporated into the latest bill. It was first introduced by... Continue Reading
December 19, 2017
Alexander-Murray and Collins-Nelson Bipartisan Stabilization Bills
NOTEWORTHY Background: The Bipartisan Health Care Stabilization Act of 2017 is an agreement between Senators Alexander and Murray to temporarily fund cost-sharing reduction subsidies and to make other changes to Obamacare. The bill was first released on October 19 with 24 cosponsors, 12 Republicans and 12 Democrats. The Lower Premiums Through Reinsurance Act of 2017 was first introduced by Senators Collins and Nelson on September 19 and is aimed at stabilizing the individual market by... Continue Reading
September 25, 2017
Senate Amendment to H.R. 1628 – Graham-Cassidy-Heller-Johnson-Blunt
Noteworthy Background: On September 13, Senators Graham, Cassidy, Heller, and Johnson released a bill to reform health care. The legislation is an amendment in the nature of a substitute to H.R. 1628, the House-passed reconciliation bill. Floor Situation: The 20 hours of debate time allotted for H.R. 1628 under the reconciliation rules expired on July 28. Majority Leader McConnell is expected to make a motion to proceed to H.R. 1628 this week and this amendment is expected to be the first vote... Continue Reading