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House Republicans are gearing up to explore a comprehensive bill centered on President Trump’s domestic policy objectives this week. Party leaders are targeting an ambitious timeline for advancing the package through the House.
At least five committees within the House are set to convene for what’s known as a markup, marking the initial phase of deliberations on the legislation. These committees will vote on whether to move their respective sections of Trump’s agenda forward.
This week’s activities unfold under the leadership of Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), who aims to finalize the bill’s approval by the end of May, initiating a crucial four-week push in Congress.
In a parallel effort, a House subcommittee will conduct a hearing on drone sightings following last year’s notable reports of unidentified vehicles flying over New Jersey. Additionally, lawmakers will review several resolutions aimed at dismantling Biden-era regulations concerning vehicles and environmental policies.
Meanwhile, the Senate is preparing to vote on further nominations from Trump’s administration, including former Senator David Perdue (R-Ga.) for the position of U.S. ambassador to China.
House Committees to Review Trump Agenda Bill
As part of the legislative process, the aforementioned House committees will meet this week to delve into their segments of the proposed Trump agenda bill, marking the beginning of discussions in the chamber regarding this expansive legislative package.
While these committees are focusing on less contentious aspects of the agenda, the markups represent an important opportunity for the public to gain insight into the specific contents of the legislation.
This week’s gatherings include the House Homeland Security Committee, meeting on Tuesday at 10 a.m. EDT, alongside the House Armed Services Committee and the House Education and Workforce Committee on the same day. The House Financial Services Committee and the Oversight Committee will convene on Wednesday at 10 a.m. EDT.
Several committees have already released the text for their respective sections of the bill ahead of the markups.
“The House Oversight Committee is making a pivotal move to advance President Trump’s America First agenda and ensure that taxpayer funds are allocated wisely and effectively,” remarked House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer (R-Ky.) in a recent statement. He emphasized that the committee’s efforts could lead to a significant reduction in the federal deficit, potentially exceeding $50 billion.
Comer added, “Republicans in Congress, in collaboration with President Trump, are taking decisive steps to protect taxpayer resources and secure the nation’s economic future, fulfilling our commitment to hardworking Americans.”
While these markups signal progress for Trump’s legislative initiatives, the party will face tougher discussions in the upcoming weeks concerning more contentious elements of the bill, particularly those overseen by the Ways and Means and Energy and Commerce committees.
The Ways and Means Committee, which handles tax issues, is focused on making Trump’s 2017 tax cuts permanent, leveraging the current policy baseline approach to maintain a deficit-neutral package.
On the other hand, the Energy and Commerce Committee will contend with the significant task of identifying $1.5 trillion in spending cuts as mandated by the budget resolution. Notably, the House committee must account for an ambitious $880 billion in cuts, which some lawmakers see as unfeasible without impacting Medicaid—an idea met with considerable resistance from various Republicans.
Discussions within the Energy and Commerce Committee regarding the markup are anticipated for the week of May 7, according to information from a committee aide.
House to Investigate Drone Sightings
This week, a specialized House committee is set to investigate the series of drone sightings reported last year. The hearing will be led by the House Oversight Subcommittee on Military and Foreign Affairs and is titled “Securing the Skies: Addressing Unauthorized Drone Activity Over U.S. Military Installations.” The hearing is scheduled for Tuesday at 2 p.m. EDT.
Scheduled witnesses include Rear Admiral Paul Spedero Jr., representing the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Mark Roosevelt Ditlevson from the Pentagon, and Timothy L. Arel from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
Chairman Rep. William Timmons (R-S.C.) stated that the hearing aims to illuminate the growing threat posed by unregulated drone activity and the urgent need for effective leadership to bolster U.S. military readiness and protect citizens.
“Ambiguities concerning agency responsibilities hinder our military’s ability to react promptly to emerging drone threats,” he expressed in a statement.
The inquiry follows previous headlines surrounding drone activity in New Jersey, which raised multiple questions about the operators behind the flights. Early in the Trump administration, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt clarified that many of these drones were authorized by the FAA for various research purposes, asserting that they did not pose a security threat.
House to Challenge Biden-Era Regulations
This week, the House plans to push forward with efforts to overturn a series of regulations instituted during the Biden administration, reflecting a strong desire to reverse the previous administration’s policies.
The chamber is set to deliberate on five disapproval resolutions, which require approval from both the House and Senate, in addition to presidential endorsement to take effect. Three of these resolutions specifically target California’s stringent automobile regulations.
Majority Leader Steve Scalise’s office articulated that the December 2024 waiver from the Biden-Harris Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which supports California’s Advanced Clean Cars II standard, imposes drastic emission requirements that aim for all new vehicles to be zero-emission by 2035. They argue this move would gradually phase out gas-powered and traditional hybrid cars, removing consumer choice.
In addition to the measures targeting car regulations, the House will address a Biden-era rule concerning All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) within the Glen Canyon Recreation Area, as well as the previous administration’s decision to classify longfin smelt as an endangered species under the Endangered Species Act, claiming it creates “burdensome red tape” for essential water management.
Senate Nominations to Continue
As part of its ongoing agenda, the Senate is expected to vote on another set of Trump nominees this week, aiming to round out the administration’s leadership.
This Monday at 5:30 p.m. EDT, a procedural vote will be held on the nomination of former Senator David Perdue (R-Ga.) to serve as U.S. ambassador to China.
Additional nominations under consideration include Thomas Barrack for U.S. ambassador to Turkey, who previously faced legal challenges related to allegations of lobbying without registration; Warren Stephens for U.S. ambassador to the United Kingdom; and Tilman Fertitta for U.S. ambassador to Italy and San Marino.
Source
thehill.com