Lawmakers are starting to return to Washington, D.C., for a weeks-long summer sprint with some of their biggest priorities hanging in the balance.  The Senate will return on Monday from a two-week July 4 recess. The House will return next week after a three-week break.  Democrats have two big priorities heading into the crucial summer […]

The House Appropriations Committee on Sunday, July 11, released the draft fiscal year 2022 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies funding bill, which will be considered in subcommittee on Monday, July 12. The bill is scheduled for full committee consideration on Thursday, July 15. This WSC Brief outlines the major health care-related […]

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer warned senators Friday to be prepared to cut short their planned August recess as he seeks to pass both a bipartisan infrastructure package and a budget blueprint teeing up a larger Democrat-only tax and spending bill. “Senators should be prepared for the possibility of working long nights, weekends, and remaining in Washington […]

The Senate is aiming to move the bipartisan infrastructure bill and the fiscal 2022 budget resolution as early as July 19, and the size and framework of the budget resolution could drive which health care provisions are ultimately included in Democrats’ upcoming reconciliation bill. Sources say it’s still unclear what Medicaid, Medicare and drug-pricing provisions […]

The House is preparing to consider H.R. 3684, the Investing in a New Vision for the Environment and Surface Transportation in America Act (INVEST Act). The legislation includes $547 billion to reauthorize surface transportation programs nationwide, including $5.7 billion in earmarks requested by lawmakers. Click here to view funding for New Jersey-based projects that would […]

Health policies aren’t part of the bipartisan infrastructure agreement President Biden and a group of senators announced yesterday. But the deal did move the ball forward for Democrats on their quest to further expand health coverage and lower drug prices: Now they can push top health priorities in a separate, partisan package later this year. Congress […]

The public option insurance plan has fallen off the national radar, despite being a major point of contention between moderates and progressives just a year ago during President Biden‘s campaign. But rather than holding Biden’s feet to the fire on the issue, progressives are concentrating on other health care priorities, like ensuring drug pricing reform and […]

Congressional Democrats are hoping to pass a slew of healthcare priorities later this year aimed at expanding access to coverage and making it more affordable for patients. There appears to be a broad agreement on the types of healthcare policies that should be in the package, like closing the Medicaid coverage gap and adding dental […]