Becker’s Washington Weekly: Week of April 27
The House’s Busy Week Ahead
Congress returns to Washington with the focus squarely on the House of Representatives, which has significant items, including FISA, budget reconciliation, and the farm bill, awaiting it.
The House of Representatives is scheduled to vote on a three-year extension of Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) authorities, after passing a 10-day extension last week that expires on April 30th. The House will also consider the budget resolution passed by Senate Republicans last week, advancing the reconciliation process to fund immigration enforcement services. Finally, the House is expected to move on a five-year farm bill extension, with a number of programs that weren’t extended as part of last year’s reconciliation package set to begin expiring on Sept. 30th.
The Senate will be closely engaged in FISA negotiations this week. If passed by the House, the measure will head to the Senate for final passage, where Majority Leader John Thune will need to secure a time agreement to pass it before the April 30th deadline.
Lawmakers in both chambers will convene committee hearings this week, including the following:
- The House Committee on Energy and Commerce’s subcommittee on Energy will hold a hearing to discuss meeting the growing AI power demand while protecting low energy prices
- The House Committee on Education and the Workforce’s subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development will examine the future of the First Amendment in higher education
- The House Committee on Space, Science, and Technology’s subcommittee on Environment will review President Trump’s FY’27 budget request for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
- The Senate Appropriations Committee’s subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies will review President Trump’s FY’27 budget request for the Department of Education
- The Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee will discuss the role of American entrepreneurship in driving innovation, growth, and opportunity
