The Weekly Hill Update

By Adam Higgins on January 14, 2019 Posted in The Weekly Hill Update

Washington D.C. The capitol, the seat of the government of the United States.

Below is the Federal Policy team’s weekly preview, published each week when Congress is in session.

HEADLINES

• The week begins with federal offices closed after a weekend snowstorm blanketed the Washington area with nearly a foot of snow; meanwhile, the partial government shutdown is now the longest in the nation’s history.

• The House plans to take up legislation funding disaster relief and will also continue passing individual appropriations bills for agencies whose funding has lapsed.

• Attorney general nominee William Barr will begin his confirmation process before the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Capitol Hill Healthcare Update

By Chris Jones on January 14, 2019 Posted in Healthcare

Below is this week’s “Capitol Hill Healthcare Update,” which is posted on Mondays when Congress is in session. Highlights this week: Nearly 7,000 FDA employees are furloughed amid the ongoing government shutdown; lawmakers introduce a slew of anti-pharma bills; 18 new Democrats land plum spots on key healthcare committees; and more.

The Weekly Hill Update

By Adam Higgins on January 7, 2019 Posted in The Weekly Hill Update

Below is the Federal Policy team’s weekly preview, published each week when Congress is in session.

HEADLINES

• The 116th Congress convenes for its first full week of session, with no end in sight to a standoff over border wall funding that has shut down about one-quarter of the government since before Christmas.

• House Democrats plan to take up individual appropriations bills in an effort to put pressure on the Senate to act to end the shutdown.

• The Supreme Court is in session for the first time in several weeks after its holiday recess, as justices are deciding whether to take up several high-profile cases including on gerrymandering, job discrimination based on sexual orientation, and deportation of young immigrants brought to the United States as children.

Capitol Hill Healthcare Update

By Chris Jones on January 7, 2019 Posted in Federal Policy, Healthcare

Below is this week’s “Capitol Hill Healthcare Update,” which is posted on Mondays when Congress is in session. Highlights this week: how the partial government shutdown is affecting operations at the FDA; House Democrats take steps to defend the ACA; the House votes this week to renew emergency health response programs; new senators are added to key healthcare committees; and more.

Mueller, 2020 Politics Undermine Efforts at Bipartisanship in 2019

By Chris Jones on January 3, 2019 Posted in Congress, Federal Policy

Fresh-from-the-campaign idealism will collide with old-fashioned partisanship on Capitol Hill today as more than 100 first-time lawmakers are sworn in and the 116th Congress is gaveled into session.

As if Republicans and Democrats needed more reasons to fuel the partisan standoff that has dominated Washington in recent years and led to the current partial government shutdown, several inflection points in 2019 are likely to drive the parties even further apart and make already long shot bids at consensus more remote.

The Weekly Hill Update

By Adam Higgins on December 17, 2018 Posted in The Weekly Hill Update

Below is the Federal Policy team’s weekly preview, published each week when Congress is in session.

HEADLINES

• Congress and President Donald Trump have until Friday night to end a standoff over his demands for border wall funding before a partial government shutdown, with no resolution in sight.

• The Senate is preparing to consider a criminal justice reform bill, while the House appears to be waiting for a resolution to the funding stalemate.

• Trump will be in Washington this week before planning to depart Friday for 16 days at his Mar-a-Lago home in Florida.

Capitol Hill Healthcare Update

By Chris Jones on December 17, 2018 Posted in Federal Policy, Healthcare

Below is this week’s “Capitol Hill Healthcare Update,” which is posted on Mondays when Congress is in session. Highlights this week include a lame duck update on year-end health bills and tax provisions; lawmakers reacting to a federal judge ruling the Affordable Care Act is unconstitutional; Sen. Hatch seeks to update Hatch-Waxman; health providers targeted by proposals to reduce the budget deficit; and more. Continue Reading

The Weekly Hill Update

By Adam Higgins on December 10, 2018 Posted in The Weekly Hill Update

Below is the Federal Policy team’s weekly preview, published each week when Congress is in session.

HEADLINES

• President Donald Trump on Tuesday will meet with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Senate Democrat Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., to discuss funding for a wall along the Mexican border and try to avert a partial government shutdown.

• Trump is also scrambling to find a new White House chief of staff after announcing over the weekend that Gen. John Kelly will depart by the end of the year.

• The House this week is planning noncontroversial votes, while the Senate continues considering Trump nominations.

Capitol Hill Healthcare Update

By Chris Jones on December 10, 2018 Posted in Healthcare

Below is this week’s “Capitol Hill Healthcare Update,” which is posted on Mondays when Congress is in session. Highlights this week: Lawmakers renew efforts to avoid a partial government shutdown, which would affect FDA; key senators introduce legislation on Medicaid prescription drug rebates; the House votes this week on allowing states to coordinate care for children with complex medical conditions; and more.

Capitol Hill Healthcare Update

By Chris Jones on December 3, 2018 Posted in Federal Policy, Healthcare

Below is this week’s “Capitol Hill Healthcare Update,” which is posted on Mondays when Congress is in session. Highlights this week: Healthcare legislative priorities are caught up in a separate spending debate that could lead to a partial government shutdown; some GOP lawmakers push back on Trump’s Part B pilot program; a key Democrat says he wants Medicare to negotiate prescription drug prices; a key senator wants to know what the FDA is doing on medical device cybersecurity; and more.