Becker’s Washington Weekly: Week of May 19
Reconciling Reconciliation
House and Senate lawmakers are in Washington for the final time this month before breaking for their Memorial Day week-long recess. In that time, House Republicans aim to pass their comprehensive tax, energy, health, and immigration reconciliation bill after narrowly clearing it out of the Budget Committee last night following an initial failed vote.
House lawmakers will also consider repeals of Biden-era regulations dealing with bank mergers and emissions standards. Legislation moving through expedited procedures deal with veterans’ benefits, cybersecurity and energy project research, strategic port reviews, and international partnerships.
In the Senate, Members will vote on cryptocurrency legislation along with the nomination of Charles Kushner to be Ambassador to France.
Lawmakers will also convene several committee hearings this week, including the following:
- The Senate Appropriations Committee will meet to consider the FY26 budget requests for the Departments of Energy and Health & Human Services
- The House Appropriations committee will consider the FY26 budget request for the Department of Education
- The House Energy & Commerce Committee will examine U.S. leadership in AI and critical mineral supply chains
- The Senate Judiciary Committee will discuss the harms of AI deepfakes
In the Administration, this week President Trump will sign the Take it Down Act aiming to curb the spread of AI deepfakes. He will also hold a law enforcement event at the White House and participate in a Kennedy Center board meeting
