Appropriations: Legislators have just five days left to pass a continuing resolution (CR) to fund the government beyond December 9th, 2016. The CR that is currently being considered will now likely last through mid-April 2017 and will give the Republican Majority in Congress and President-elect Donald Trump the final say in how the government is funded for the remaining six months of FY 2017.
It is anticipated that the House will vote on the CR on Thursday, with the Senate to follow shortly after. House Republicans are hoping to wrap up the 114th Congressional session on Thursday after passing the CR and the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) bill, which includes $170 million to help Flint, Michigan rid its water supply of lead pollution.
Child Nutrition Reauthorization: The window for Congress to pass a Child Nutrition Reauthorization (CNR) bill this year is becoming ever smaller, with only two weeks left before the December holidays. In the likelihood that no CNR bill passes in 2016, WIC and other child nutrition programs will continue to operate under the policies set by the 2010 CNR bill, known as the Healthy, Hunger Free Kids Act.
Congressional Leadership: Last Wednesday, House Democrats re-elected Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) as the leader of their party.
Trump Administration Updates: This morning, President-Elect Donald Trump chose Ben Carson to oversee the Department of Housing and Urban Development. The President-Elect also announced a number of appointments last week: Representative Tom Price (R-GA) as his Health and Human Services Secretary; Elaine Chao, former Labor Secretary, as his Transportation Secretary; businessman Wilbur Ross as his Commerce Secretary; and Trump campaign finance chairman Steven Mnuchin as his Treasury Secretary.