Congress Faces Busy Week Ahead of August Recess

Congress is facing a long to-do list before it adjourns for a month-long recess at the end of the week. Lawmakers are not scheduled to return until September, just weeks before the end of the fiscal year.

The House is expected to consider two fiscal 2024 appropriations bills, including the Agriculture bill that includes a 2.1 percent cut in funding for the Food and Drug Administration as well as significant cuts to CFTC and USDA.

The Senate is continuing debate on the annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) with the goal of passing it by Friday. NTEU is closely watching several problematic amendments that could be considered, including one to limit investment options in the TSP and another to codify one of the Trump 2018 anti-union executive orders, in addition to an amendment we support that would prevent a president from implementing a policy similar to the Schedule F executive order issued during the last administration. The House passed its version of the bill earlier this month, without these provisions.

Also this week, the Senate Appropriations Committee is scheduled to mark up several spending bills funding NTEU-represented agencies including the Department of Defense, Bureau of Land Management, Customs and Border Protection, the Environmental Protection Agency and National Park Service.

NTEU will keep you updated on the appropriations process and our ongoing fight for adequate agency funding next year. Learn more