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NATaT December 2024 Annual Meeting

Jerry B. Crabtree, Heidi Fought (Ohio ED), Past President Neil Sheradin (Michigan Ed), and NATaT President Dave Sanko (PA ED)

NATaT Weekly Legislative Report

June 25, 2025

Congressional Outlook

The The House and Senate are both back in session this week. The Senate GOP looks to pass their version of the budget reconciliation package by the end of this week after getting results from the “Byrd Bath” being conducted by the Senate Parliamentarian. Republicans in the House and Senate have just ten days left to pass the One Big Beautiful Bill Act through both chambers and send it to the President to be signed into law by their self-imposed deadline of July 4^th.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) stated on Monday that he hopes to bring the Republican reconciliation bill to a vote on the Senate floor this Thursday. While acknowledging that the "Byrd Bath" process has been slower than expected, Thune assured that progress is "full speed ahead" on the extensive legislative package. Senators may not see the final bill text until today and are eyeing a vote on the bill by the end of the week. Currently, Senate aides are meeting with the Parliamentarian to debate the Senate Finance Committee’s health provisions, including Medicaid cuts, publicly announced last week. Discussions on the tax provisions were slated for Tuesday. The Senate Parliamentarian, Elizabeth MacDonough, began ruling on various provisions within the Senate’s version late last week, forcing many Senate committee chairs to retool their portions of the package. Major sections are getting rewritten after early rulings issued by the Parliamentarian. Thune also noted ongoing negotiations with House Republican leaders regarding key unsettled issues like changes to Medicaid and the State and Local Tax (SALT) deduction, emphasizing the dwindling time to reach final agreements. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that “No one goes on vacation until it’s done” via social media, citing that Congress should stay in town until the One Big Beautiful Bill reaches the Oval Office for his signature. Both chambers are mulling making changes to their scheduled recess next week in order to move forward with passage of a final bill.

A new estimate from the Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT) puts the cost of Senate Republicans’ tax package at $4.2 trillion, exceeding the $4 trillion limit set by House Republicans and excluding additional costs from potential changes to the SALT deduction. This discrepancy could complicate efforts to pass the legislation, especially as the House may resist the higher price tag. To add to the confusion, the JCT released a second estimate using an alternative method—at the Senate GOP’s request—that dramatically lowers the projected cost to $442 billion.

A key part of Majority Leader Thune’s work is ensuring that a minimum of 50 of the 53 senators in his own party are prepared to vote for the bill. As a reminder, Republicans can only lose three votes and still pass the bill, as Vice President J.D. Vance would serve as the tie-breaking vote. The margin could face impact from the following seven Senators who all have issues with the bill.

Rand Paul (R-Ky.) is expected to vote "no," as his support is contingent on a separate vote on the debt-limit hike, and his border security proposal, which the Senate Budget Committee, chaired by Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), rejected.

Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) seeks a commitment to reduce spending to pre-pandemic levels and a process to maintain that ceiling for his vote. He also wants to vote for the bill in pieces.

Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) and Jim Justice (R-W.V.) are advocating for changes to a Medicaid financing provision, warning against cuts that could impact rural hospitals and elections.

Susan Collins (R-Maine), who previously voted against the budget plan due to Medicaid concerns, continues to voice reservations about potential cuts while facing external pressure.

Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) has also raised concerns about the Medicaid provisions, aligning with other senators on the issue and expressing apprehension about blocking funds to Planned Parenthood.

Mike Lee (R-Utah) believes the bill is "moving in the wrong direction," pushing for greater deficit reduction, a full phaseout of renewable energy subsidies, and facing opposition to his public land sale provision.

Rick Scott (R-Fla.) desires deeper cuts and advocates for Medicaid to focus on its original purpose, arguing against expanded federal payments for new enrollees after two years.

The House will also consider 20 bills under suspension of the rules, including the Deploying American Blockchains Act of 2025 (H.R. 1664), which directs the Secretary of Commerce to take actions necessary and appropriate to promote the competitiveness of the U.S. related to the deployment, use, application, and competitiveness of blockchain technology or other distributed ledger technology; the Fair Investment Opportunities for Professional Experts Act (H.R. 3394), which amends the Securities Act of 1933 to codify certain qualifications of individuals as accredited investors for purposes of the securities laws; and the Expanding Access to Capital for Rural Job Creators Act (H.R. 1190), which amends the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to expand access to capital for rural-area small businesses. The House will also vote on Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Military Construction—Veterans Affairs spending bill (H.R. 3944), providing a total discretionary allocation of $152.1 billion; The Jeremy and Angel Seay and Sergeant Brandon Mendoza Protect Our Communities from DUIs Act of 2025 (H.R. 875), which automatically makes noncitizens who are convicted of driving while intoxicated or impaired ineligible for admission into the U.S. and made deportable; and the Special Interest Alien Reporting Act of 2025 (H.R. 275), which requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to publish a monthly list of any “special interest” noncitizens encountered by DHS personnel. The Senate voted 61-35 on Tuesday to confirm Daniel Zimmerman to be Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs and will vote on the nominations of Paul Dabbar to be Deputy Secretary of Commerce and Kenneth Kies to be Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Tax Policy later this week.

The House is holding several hearings including an Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies hearing on the “Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Request for the Department of Justice;” an Appropriations Subcommittee on Legislative Branch markup on the “Fiscal Year 2026 Legislative Branch Bill;” an Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee on Delivering on Government Efficiency hearing on “Locking in the DOGE Cuts: Ending Waste, Fraud, and Abuse for Good;” an Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health hearing on “The Fiscal Year 2026 Department of Health and Human Services Budget;” a Committee on Appropriations markup on the Fiscal Year 2026 Homeland Security Bill;” an Oversight and Accountability Subcommittee on Health Care and Financial Services hearing on “Sacrificing Excellence for Ideology: The Real Cost of DEI;” a Committee on the Budget hearing on “Reversing the Curse: Rooting Out Waste and Fraud and Restoring the Dignity of Work;” and a Natural Resources Subcommittee on Federal Lands hearing on “Fix Our Forests: Advancing Innovative Technologies to Improve Forest Management and Prevent Wildfires.”

The Senate will also hold various hearings, including an Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense hearing to “Examine proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 2026 for the Navy;” an Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction—Veterans Affairs hearing on “The proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 2026 for the Department of Veterans Affairs;” an Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce—Justice—Science hearing to “Review the budget estimates for fiscal year 2026 for the Department of Justice;” and an Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense hearing to examine proposed budget estimates for Fiscal Year 2026 for the Air Force and Space Force.

Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.) was elected on Tuesday as top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee for the remainder of the 119^th Congress. The result of the closed-door ballot was 150 votes for Rep. Garcia and 63 votes for Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-Mass). Garcia, currently in his second term, secured the position on the first ballot. His replacement of the late Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA) marks a shift toward a younger generation of leadership within the Democratic Party and on the committee.

Week in Review

Trump says no vacations until Congress passes his megabill

Senate eyes vote on Trump tax bill by end of week as deadline threatens recess

Senate Proposes $4.2 Trillion of Tax Cuts

Senate parliamentarian deals another blow to GOP megabill

Senate parliamentarian rejects GOP attempt to authorize states to conduct immigration enforcement

Rep. Robert Garcia elected as top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee