Every August, Congress adjourns for a month-long recess (also known as district work period) to spend time with constituents. State and district staff remain busy, shuffling Members around to events and town halls. Back in Washington, official legislating comes to a pause as votes and bill introductions cease. However, the periods leading up to August recess and immediately proceeding it are some of the busiest of the year.
The House adjourned the second to last week of July. Prior to leaving, the House passed a significant agreement on the debt limit and a two-year budget, allowing for increased spending over the next several years and averting a potential fiscal crisis triggered by Congress running out of the ability to borrow money. This agreement alleviates significant pressure on both parties and gave House Democrats a win, as they earn a policy victory in divided government and increase federal expenditures for some of their priorities.
Concurrently in the House, the Energy and Commerce Committee was forced to cancel a scheduled markup of a draft bill to reauthorize the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA). Committee staff had worked diligently to assemble a bipartisan PHMSA bill and pass it out of the Committee before August recess. However, the bill was removed from the schedule after agreements could not be made regarding several sections of the bill. Following August recess, both the Energy and Commerce Committee and Transportation and Infrastructure Committee will need to pass versions of their PHMSA reauthorization bills.
The House may look at some energy-related policy items when Congress returns. There has been discussion in the Energy and Commerce Committee about addressing some legacy energy policy issues. The Ways and Means Committee may decide to look at some new energy-related tax incentives. And appropriators will need to pass some sort of spending package, whether a Continuing Resolution or omnibus spending bill, that will undoubtedly contain energy provisions.
The Senate left town the last week of July after accepting the House-passed budget and debt deal. The Senate Commerce Committee also attempted to pass a version of PHMSA reauthorization. Similar to the House, last-minute uncertainty threatened bill passage in Committee before adjournment for recess. However, the Commerce Committee was able to come to an agreement and voted the PHMSA package out of their committee. The PHMSA bill now can go to the floor in the Senate for full Senate approval. It will still need to be approved by a conference committee of both Representatives and Senators before final passage.
On top of that, the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee was able to successfully mark up and pass out a major reauthorization of the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act from 2015. Dubbed the American Transportation Infrastructure Act, the bill authorizes $287 billion in spending on various surface transportation programs. This includes $1 billion in grants for alternative fuel infrastructure on federally-designated alternative fuel corridors, including natural gas vehicle infrastructure. Additionally, the bill marks several billions for emissions reduction programs and resiliency spending, and provides for various permitting streamlining items. The bill was unanimously passed out of the Senate EPW Committee, but must go through several other committee referrals before making it to the floor.
In terms of fall activity in the energy space, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee may decide to move on legislation covering a variety of topics affecting APGA members. Sens. Murkowski (R-AK) and Manchin (D-WV), respective chairman and ranking member of the Senate Energy Committee, have both voiced their desire to do some sort of energy package this fall. This could include energy efficiency, building codes, FERC, permitting, and other areas.
The rest of the year will likely be dominated by debate surrounding a spending package. Additionally, geopolitical and domestic hot-button issues seem primed to take up much of Congress’ time.
As always, APGA continues to track and influence policy debates impacting its membership on Capitol Hill. However, August recess (or any Congressional recess) is a good time for APGA members themselves to interact with their elected representatives back in the state. Lawmaker engagement and education is a crucial part of ensuring APGA’s policy priorities are heard.
For questions on this article, please contact Doug MacGillivray of APGA staff by phone at 202-464-2742 or by email at
dmacgillivray@apga.org.