| | | | |  | | By Katherine Tully-McManus and Daniella Diaz | Presented by The Alzheimer's Association | With assists from Jordain Carney
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House Majority Whip Tom Emmer is trying to get the debt limit bill across the finish line. | Francis Chung/POLITICO | The House and Senate are back and don’t expect a dull moment. There’s hot action headed to the floor, plus the potential for drama in committees in both chambers. WHO RULES RULES? — House GOP leaders are daring their colleagues to vote against Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s (R-Calif.) debt limit proposal on the floor this week, refusing to bend to calls for tweaks even as a handful of members keep pressing in private for changes. That means full steam ahead to the House Rules Committee this afternoon ahead of floor action as soon as Wednesday. Who are the holdouts? Reps. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.), Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.), Eli Crane (R-Ariz.), Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.), Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and Chip Roy (R-Texas) are some who could still be no votes, Sarah and Olivia reported. That means that the House Rules Committee consideration of the bill is a must-watch for your Huddle hosts. Massie and Roy were put on Rules as in a horse trade made for McCarthy to secure the speakership and both pledged to serve as conservative checks on leadership’s power. Remember when Massie told Huddle back in January he thought of the pair, plus Rep. Ralph Norman (R-S.C.), as the committee’s conservative “conscience”? The conscience may be tested. This debt limit bill hardly went through “regular order,” with no hearings or committee markups. And it won’t be subject to the freewheeling amendment process that could threaten the carefully calibrated bill’s prospects. Sarah and Olivia sat down with Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) Monday, don’t miss the latest straight from the whip’s mouth. SCHUMER IN HIS E.R.A. ERA — Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) is giving an old idea new life on the floor this week, with a vote on the Equal Rights Amendment. Schumer plans to file cloture today, setting up a vote on the legislation for Thursday. The ERA promises equal rights to women and reads, in part, “Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.” For Republicans, the ERA is nearly indivisible from the issue of abortion rights. They warn that ratification would lead to expanded access to and rollbacks of anti-abortion legislation on the state level. Conservatives argue that because abortions are exclusive to women, any restrictions on the procedure could be deemed unconstitutional under the ERA. When the E.R.A was first en vogue in the 1970s, its Congressional support was widespread and bipartisan. No so these days.
| | | | A message from The Alzheimer's Association: The future of Medicare? President Biden recently called Medicare “a rock solid guarantee.” But that’s not true for beneficiaries living with early Alzheimer’s. For the first time ever, CMS has blocked Medicare coverage to FDA-approved drugs. Now CMS is stalling despite compelling evidence and coverage by the VA. Today it’s people living with early Alzheimer’s. Who will it be tomorrow? Learn more at alz.org/coverage. | | | GOOD MORNING! Welcome to Huddle, the play-by-play guide to all things Capitol Hill, on this Tuesday, April 25, where CRS is asking the right questions. Friday’s issue of Huddle incorrectly labeled Rep. Tom Emmer’s state – he is from Minnesota. FIRST IN HUDDLE: GARCIA'S GREEN — California Rep. Robert Garcia, the freshman Democratic class president, is hosting a dinner with the freshman class and meeting with Ron Klain, President Joe Biden’s former chief of staff. Since the start of the new Congress, Garcia has organized meetings with the freshman Democrats and Biden Administration officials like Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and then-Labor Secretary Marty Walsh. He has donated more than any other freshman to the freshman democratic front liners and has given more than any other freshman democrat to the DCCC. Garcia has also put his money where his mouth is, donating $2,000 to each front line freshman, more than any other freshman Democrat, and donating a whopping $35,000 to the DCCC, where he serves as a recruitment chair. TRUMP v. BIDEN (Again) — With Biden’s reelection campaign officially launched, Democrats are getting comfortable thinking about a Joe Biden-Donald Trump rematch in 2024. They’re threading a needle here, admitting that Trump’s post-indictment primary boost and front-runner status could be good for Democrats who have run successfully on anti-Trump platforms. But political benefit doesn’t equate to what they think is good for the country. “Obviously, it’s politically helpful,” said Rep. Dean Phillips (D-Minn.), who flipped a red seat in his party’s anti-Trump-fueled wave in 2018. “But that’s not good for the country.” Burgess and Sarah have more on Congressional Dems’ bracing for Trump-Biden 2.0. Meanwhile… Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.), chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, endorsed Trump last night on Donald Trump Jr.’s podcast.
| | | | GO INSIDE THE 2023 MILKEN INSTITUTE GLOBAL CONFERENCE: POLITICO is proud to partner with the Milken Institute to produce a special edition "Global Insider" newsletter featuring exclusive coverage, insider nuggets and unparalleled insights from the 2023 Global Conference, which will convene leaders in health, finance, politics, philanthropy and entertainment from April 30-May 3. This year’s theme, Advancing a Thriving World, will challenge and inspire attendees to lean into building an optimistic coalition capable of tackling the issues and inequities we collectively face. Don’t miss a thing — subscribe today for a front row seat. | | | | | BORDER BILL ON TAP — The House Homeland Security Committee has its own border security bill scheduled for a markup at 10 a.m. on Wednesday. The legislation would, among other provisions: restart previously planned construction for a border wall and beef up requirements for border barriers, boost Customs and Border Protection staffing and establish retention bonuses for Border Patrol personnel and require the Department of Homeland Security to publicly release monthly data. The House Judiciary Committee advanced its own related legislation last week that would restrict asylum access for migrants at the border, reinstate migrant family detention and heighten penalties for immigration violations. As Jordain has previously reported, the asylum language in the Judiciary bill has sparked pushback from a coalition of centrists and Hispanic Republicans, who worry it will upend the ability to make claims. Critics are also hoping they can peel off agriculture-minded Republicans over e-verify language. Notable: The two committees are expected to merge their proposals in the Rules Committee as leadership eyes a May vote, though they still need to find a path to 218 votes. Even if legislation passes the House, it’s dead on arrival in the Democratic-led Senate. JORDAN’S FBI MOVES — Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) is subpoenaing Jennifer Leigh Moore, executive assistant director of human resources at the Federal Bureau of Investigation, ramping up an investigation of GOP claims of politicization within the federal government. The subpoena, a copy of which was viewed by POLITICO, compels Moore to appear at a closed-door deposition on May 10. Russell Dye, a spokesperson for Jordan, said the subpoena came after she “refused to answer questions during her transcribed interview about the FBI’s retaliation against brave whistleblowers who have come forward to raise concerns about abuses they have seen at the Bureau.” The statement didn’t specify the alleged “abuses” but an earlier letter to Moore said that they had received information suggesting she “retaliated against at least one whistleblower” and was involved in revoking security clearances. (Committee Democrats have argued that many of the individuals providing information don’t rise to the level of being classified as a whistleblower, a designation that comes with legal protections.) The FBI, in a statement, said Moore “voluntarily answered questions … about the FBI’s security clearance adjudication process for several hours. She did not discuss the details of specific individuals whose cases are still under review to protect the integrity of the process and the privacy of the individuals.” The bureau added that it “recognizes the importance of congressional oversight and remains fully committed to cooperating with Congress’ oversight requests consistent with its constitutional and statutory responsibilities.” (The statement sparked an immediate clap back from House Judiciary Republicans.
| | | | A message from The Alzheimer's Association:   | | | SU ON STANDBY — Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee Chairman Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said his committee will vote on Wednesday on Julie Su’s nomination for Labor Secretary. She’s expected to be voted out of committee – that’s not the problem. Five senators who previously backed Su in 2021 when the Senate voted 50-47 along party lines to confirm her as deputy Labor secretary – Sens. Manchin, Jon Tester (D-Mont.), Sens. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Angus King (I-Maine) and Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.) – are now on the fence and haven’t committed to backing Su a second time. IS THAT YOU, CONGRESS? IT’S AI — Forty offices in the House have snagged the limited number of ChatGPT licenses doled out by the Office of the Chief Administrative Officer’s House Digital Services on a first-come-first-served basis, FedScoop reports. There are a lot of firewalls, it seems like, to keep the experiment from tangling with sensitive internal information. Some of the tech-forward offices your Huddle host had a hunch might dive into the AI experiment aren’t actually in the trial run. If your office is using it, get in touch! MANCHIN HITS I.R.A. — Manchin has hammered the Biden administration for weeks on its implementation of the massive energy, health care and tax measure that Manchin had a major hand in last year. The West Virginia Democrat took another swing at the White House last night on Hannity. “If this administration does not honor what it said it would do, and basically continue to liberalize … I will do everything I can in my power to prevent that from happening. And if they don't change that I would vote to repeal my own bill,” Manchin said. He also questioned why he’s even a Democrat if he’s feeling so burned by the party. But, but, but… As House Republicans take aim at repealing clean-energy programs from the Inflation Reduction Act as part of the debt limit deal, those programs are giving a major boost to GOP districts.
| | Pups on the Hill… Therapy animal teams are on the Hill today with event hosts Pet Partners, Pet Advocacy Network, and Pet Food Institute. “Everyone on Capitol Hill is invited to cuddle up next to a therapy animal and learn more about the impact of animal-assisted interventions,” they say. They’ll be in Dirksen G50 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Longworth 1539 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Senate book club? Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) got some book recommendations. QUICK LINKS Why is Jamaal Bowman so angry?, from Kadia Goba at Semafor A deep dive: ‘Always underestimated’: Can McCarthy meet the moment?, from Christa Case Bryant at The Christian Science Monitor Lawmakers are worked up about Tucker Carlson’s exit from Fox News, from Matt Berg and Ekaterina Pechenkina TRANSITIONS Santiago Gonzalez is now legislative director for Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.). He was previously Bennet’s senior policy advisor on health and immigration. Josh Oppenheimer is now senior legislative officer at DOL’s Office of Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs. He previously was senior pensions counsel for the Senate HELP committee. Emma Bruce is now staff director for the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Indo-Pacific. She previously was legislative assistant for Rep. Ami Bera (D-Calif.). Caty Payette is now deputy communications director for Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.). She was most recently the communications director for Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio). Joe Guy is now chief of staff for Rep. Brandon Williams (R-N.Y.). Guy was most recently the director of programs at the Club for Growth Foundation and is a Trump USAID alum. Alexis Torres is now communications director for Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas). She was previously press secretary for Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-Texas).
| | | | The McCain Institute will convene its 10th annual Sedona Forum on May 5-6, featuring lawmakers, journalists, military leaders, business executives, and more. This year’s theme, “Indispensable Power,” will examine the diplomatic, military, and economic means employed to protect democracy, human rights, and the global competitive edge. Established by Senator John McCain, the Sedona Forum is held each spring in the red rock country of Sedona, Arizona, to advance the mission of the McCain Institute – fighting for democracy, human dignity, and security. Visit TheSedonaForum.org to register for the livestream today. | | | | | TODAY IN CONGRESS The House convenes at 12 p.m. for morning hour and 2 p.m. for legislative business. The Senate convenes at 3 p.m. with a vote at 5:30 p.m. on cloture on the nomination of Joshua David Jacobs to be under secretary for benefits at the Department of Veterans Affairs. AROUND THE HILL 2 p.m. Reps. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.) and Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.) hold a press conference on their Ukrainian Victory Resolution. (House Triangle) 3:30 p.m. Senate Appropriations Legislative Branch Subcommittee will hold a hearing on the budget requests of the Senate Sergeant at Arms and U.S. Capitol Police. (124 Dirksen) 4 p.m. House Rules Committee meeting to consider the Limit, Save, Grow Act of 2023, as well as H.J. Res. 39. (H-313 Capitol.)
| | MONDAY’S WINNER: Alfred Harf correctly answered that "The King of Asphalt," Rep. Bud Shuster (R-Pa.), allowed a stretch of the Interstate Highway System in his home state to be called I-99. TODAY’S QUESTION: Which trailblazing House member questioned their appointment to the House Agriculture committee with this quip: “Apparently all they know in Washington about Brooklyn was a tree grew there." The first person to correctly guess gets a mention in the next edition of Huddle. Send your answers to ktm@politico.com. GET HUDDLE emailed to your phone each morning. Follow Katherine on Twitter @ktullymcmanus
| | | | A message from The Alzheimer's Association: The Biden Administration is continuing to block access to FDA-approved Alzheimer’s treatments. Despite the fact that Medicare has always covered FDA-approved treatments for those living with a disease, CMS has made the unprecedented decision to deny access to FDA-approved treatments for people living with Alzheimer’s. Each day CMS blocks access, more than 2,000 people transition to a more advanced stage of Alzheimer’s where they are no longer eligible for treatment. Each day matters to someone living with early stage Alzheimer's when it comes to slowing the progression of this disease. The Administration’s policy to block access to these treatments eliminates people’s options, resulting in continued irreversible disease progression and contributes to greater health inequities. The role and responsibility of CMS is to provide health care coverage, not to stand between a patient and a doctor when deciding what FDA-approved treatments are appropriate. This decision must be reversed. | | | | | | | Follow us | | | | |
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