Congress to Take Up Defense Spending as Negotiations Over Coronavirus Relief, Police Reform Continue

What’s happening in Congress?

• Congress returns this week from its July recess with both chambers focused on their respective versions of the annual defense policy authorization package, which will enable roughly $731 billion in defense spending for fiscal year 2021. 
• Behind the scenes, negotiations will continue over a potential “phase 4” coronavirus relief package and on police reform, and if there is a breakthrough it’s possible Congress could start consideration of either as early as this week to pass it before the August recess.

SENATE SCHEDULE

• The Senate starts its week Monday with a confirmation vote on the nomination of Russell Vought to be Director of the Office of Management & Budget, a position he currently holds in an acting capacity.
• It will then resume the consideration of amendments to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for fiscal year 2021. Later in the week, the Senate is expected to complete its consideration of amendments before voting on passage of the underlying bill. 
• Committees will hold several hearings, including on the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on seniors and disparities in racial health, the risk of zoonotic disease from illegal wildlife trafficking, general election preparations, and U.S. competition with the People’s Republic of China.

HOUSE SCHEDULE 

• The House starts its week considering its version of the NDAA for fiscal year 2021, with votes on amendments expected throughout Monday & Tuesday before a passage vote on the underlying bill Tuesday.
• Wednesday will feature votes on bills to restrict the executive branch’s ability to implement travel bans, give detained travelers access to legal counsel, and ban anti-competitive behavior by prescription drug makers. 
• Also on Wednesday, the House is expected to vote on the bipartisan Great American Outdoors Act ― which would use revenue from energy development on federal lands to fund maintenance of public lands used for recreation ― and on a bill to remove statues of former Confederates and other pro slavery figures from the Capitol.
• Thursday and Friday will be focused on a four bill “minibus” appropriations package that will total $259.5 billion in FY2021 discretionary funding for those agencies. Consideration of childcare spending legislation may begin in advance of further debate next week.
• Committees will hold several hearings, including on the national response to the coronavirus pandemic, presidential pardon abuse, The Heroes Act & economic recovery in the pandemic.

Check below throughout the week to see the vote results and updates to the schedule.

Schedule subject to change. All times Eastern.

HOUSE

Monday after 11:30Am

• Begin consideration of amendments to H.R. 6935: William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021

Tuesday after 10pm

• Amendments to H.R. 6395: William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021
• H.R. 6395: William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 Passed 295-125.

Wednesday after 10am

• Senate Amendment to H.R. 1957: Great American Outdoors Act Passed 310-107.
• Chu Amendment (NO BAN Act) to H.R. 2486 Adopted 233-183.
• Jayapal Amendment (Access to Counsel Act of 2020) to H.R. 2486 Adopted 231-184.
• H.R. 7573: Directing the removal of the busts of Chief Justice Roger Taney & Confederates & other pro-slavery figures from display in the U.S. Capitol (2/3rds majority required under suspension of the rules) Passed 305-113.

Thursday between 9am

• Begin consideration of H.R. 7608: State, Foreign Operations, Agriculture, Rural Development, Interior, Environment, Military Construction, and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act, 2021

Friday after 9am

• H.R. 7608: State, Foreign Operations, Agriculture, Rural Development, Interior, Environment, Military Construction, and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act, 2021 Passed 224-189.

SENATE

Monday after 5:30pm

• Confirmation vote on the nomination of Russell Vought to be Director of the Office of Management and Budget Confirmed 51-45.
• Amendments to S. 4049: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021

Tuesday after 11:45am

• Schatz Amendment to S. 4049: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 Not adopted 51-49 (60 votes required).
• Inhofe Amendment to S. 4049: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 Adopted 90-10.
• Shaheen Amendment to S. 4049: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 Adopted by voice vote.
• Cornyn Amendment to S. 4049: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 Adopted 96-4.

Wednesday after 12pm

• Sanders Amendment to S. 4049: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 Not adopted 23-77.
• Tester Amendment to S. 4049: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 Adopted 94-6.
• Cloture motion on Inhofe substitute amendment to S. 4049: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 and the underlying bill Invoked 87-13.

Thursday after 10am

• Portman Amendment to S. 4049: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 Adopted by voice vote.
• Inhofe substitute amendment to S. 4049: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 Adopted 88-12.
• Cloture motion on S. 4049: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 and the underlying bill Invoked 86-14.
• S. 4049: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 Passed 86-14.

Tell your reps how to vote on this week's bills and share your thoughts below!

— Eric Revell