Appropriations May Get an Earlier Start this Year

This year, House Appropriations Committee Chair Nita Lowey (D-NY) is seriously considering beginning markups for FY 20 appropriations funding as soon as the end of April.  While nothing definite is, as yet, on the schedule, the goal is to have bills ready for the Floor in June.  This, hopefully, would give enough time for the measures to work their way through both Chambers and be ready for final passage before the end of the Federal fiscal year in September.

The House Appropriations proposed strategy is to couple bills into smaller packages, similar to last year’s minibus approach.  First in line are likely to be funding bills for Energy & Water, Military Construction, and the Legislative Branch.  No information is available as to when Interior-EPA might be taken up.  The Senate Appropriations Committee has not publicly shared any scheduling information.