Today in Washington – September 12, 2018
September 12, 2018
Source: Jennifer White – Legislative Counsel

Congress returns to Washington today for a short week.

Appropriations Watch – Lawmakers are aiming to vote this week in both chambers on a final spending package covering Military Construction-VA, Energy and Water and Legislative Branch spending. The House today will consider 24 measures, starting with a bill that would authorize a new office at the Homeland Security Department aimed at deterring chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear attacks.

Tax Reform 2.0 – The House Ways and Means Committee plans to debate, amend, and vote on the tax 2.0 package tomorrow, which the JCT estimates would cost more than $657 billion over a decade. The committee will consider all three bills in the 2.0 package: the Protecting Family and Small Business Tax Cuts Act of 2018, which would make the individual provisions in the 2017 tax law permanent; the Family Savings Act of 2018, which focuses on retirement plans; and the American Innovation Act of 2018, which is meant to spur innovation by allowing startup businesses to write off more of their costs.

Hearings
• Thursday, 9/13 @ 10 AM: House Ways and Means Committee, Markup: Bills to Protect Taxpayers, 1100 Longworth.
• Thursday, 9/13 @ 11 AM: House Small Business Committee, Now Hiring: How the Opioid Epidemic Affects Small Businesses, 2360 Rayburn.