POLICY BRIEFINGS

Hart Health Strategies provides a comprehensive policy briefing on a weekly basis. This in-depth health policy briefing is sent out at the beginning of each week. The health policy briefing recaps the previous week and previews the week ahead. It alerts clients to upcoming congressional hearings, newly introduced bills, regulatory announcements, and implementation activity related to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) and other health laws.


THIS WEEK'S BRIEFING - DECEMBER 3, 2018

House Dems Select Leaders for 116th Congress


Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) won the internal caucus nomination to continue to lead Democrats as Speaker of the House in the 116th Congress by a 203-32 vote. Reps. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) and James Clyburn (S.C.) ran unopposed for the No. 2 and No. 3 spots of Majority Leader and Majority Whip. Rep. Cheri Bustos (Ill.) was elected chairwoman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC), receiving 117 votes compared to 83 votes for Denny Heck (Wash.) and 32 votes for Suzan DelBene (Wash.). The former DCCC leader Ben Ray Luján (N.M.) was elected to serve as the next Assistant Leader. Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) was elected Democratic caucus chair in a 123-113 vote against fellow Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) member Barbara Lee (Calif.). If every member votes for a candidate, and no member votes present, Pelosi will need 218 votes to become Speaker when the full House votes in January. Despite some opposition from within her party, Pelosi remains uncontested for the top leadership spot.


Lawmakers Consider CR to Avert Partial Government Shutdown


Congressional lawmakers are reportedly in talks with the White House on the passage of a stopgap spending bill to avert a partial government shutdown. The current continuing resolution (CR) for those portions of the federal government that have not yet been funded for fiscal year (FY) 2019 expires on December 7, and government funding negotiations will likely be slowed due to the state funeral of former President George H. W. Bush this week. Little progress has been made to reach an agreement on immigration issues. A Senate-passed measure included $1.6 billion for border security, but President Trump has threated to veto a spending bill that does not meet his funding demand of $5 billion for a border wall. Appropriator Nita Lowey (D-N.Y.) has said that House Democrats do not support any money for a physical border wall.



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