Reconciliation Advocacy Center

WHERE WE ARE NOW 
(Week of May 19)

The House and Senate have agreed to a general top-line budget while the reconciliation work has moved to the congressional standing committees. Each congressional standing committee will be responsible for identifying spending cuts or changes to programs under its jurisdiction. 

House of Representatives

• The Budget Committee advanced the budget reconciliation package on May 18 with minor changes. The bill passed the committee 17-16, with 4 Republicans abstaining from the vote.
• The bill moves to the House Committee on Rules, which is scheduled to convene on May 21 to consider the legislation. Changes are likely to be made to the bill prior to consideration by the Rules Committee. If, as expected, the Rules Committee votes to advance the legislation, then it will be considered by the full House on May 22, with final passage expected on May 23.
• The Committee on Education & Workforce voted on April 29 to advance legislation proposing over $350 billion in cuts in federal higher education programs.
• The Committee on Ways & Means voted on May 14 to advance legislation that, among other things, preserves nearly all the student and family higher education benefits that had been under consideration for elimination and expands IRC Sec. 127 yet also increases the marginal rates on institutions eligible to pay the endowment tax. 

Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) intends to package the committee-passed bills for complete consideration in the House by Memorial Day.

Senate

• A timeline in the Senate has not been determined nor has it been established when the body intends to consider legislation in the committees or by the full Senate.