| | | | |  | | By Daniella Diaz and Anthony Adragna | | | With an assist from POLITICO’s Hill team
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Senate Commerce Chair Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) isn’t super clear on the timetable for when the FAA will get wrapped up. | Francis Chung/POLITICO | TWO THINGS WE’RE WATCHING TODAY
- Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will testify before the Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government on social media bias. (More on that below)
- Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer’s plan to hold a vote on the military’s abortion policy to stop Sen. Tommy Tuberville’s holds on military nominations. (More on that below, too)
EXTRA DCA FLIGHTS FAIL IN HOUSE House lawmakers held late votes Wednesday night to consider a series of amendments to their FAA reauthorization bill. We’ll have more on those amendments below, but among them was a much-discussed provision to add additional flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, which was defeated on a 205-229 vote. Even though this proposal failed the House, it’s still being debated in the Senate. Speaking of… SENATE STALLS ON FAA The House may be nearly done with its drama over reauthorizing the Federal Aviation Administration, but now it's the Senate's turn to pose some huge problems. And over in the upper chamber, the hurdles that this must-pass bill faces look unlikely to be cleared before the chamber’s five-week August recess. Remember: The current FAA bill expires Sept. 30. That’s not a lot of time for the two chambers to iron out their differences, even if a Senate committee finalizes its version this month. And there’s no chance the Senate's FAA bill comes to the floor before August recess. Leading senators don’t seem optimistic about the timing. Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, the top Republican on the Commerce Committee, told your Huddle host Wednesday: “What remains to be seen is: Are Senate Democrats interested in legislating? Or do they just want to throw hand grenades?” (We’d note here that Cruz isn’t exactly known for dealmaking, either.) Let’s take a look at the main problems:
Pilot training (the biggie): Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), who used to chair the committee, wants an amendment vote that would allow prospective pilots to receive credit toward the required 1,500 hours of flight time if they complete virtual training. Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) is very much against this, telling Burgess in an interview that the bill is “stalled.” She said efforts to revise how training hours are counted amount to “continued attacks on the safety of the flying public” and said those who support the change could be to blame if a reauthorization doesn’t pass.
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DCA flight slots: Sens. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) and Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.) have an amendment to increase the slots for long-haul flights at DCA, but the number of slots that would be added is still being debated, according to a congressional aide familiar with the negotiations. Virginia Democratic Sens. Mark Warner and Tim Kaine are staunchly opposed to adding additional flights at Reagan, and Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) doesn’t want more long-haul flights to hurt small airports. Kaine told Huddle he would vote against the FAA bill itself if there’s any measure increasing slots at DCA. So this is a touchy regional issue, just as it was in the House.
- Minimum wage: Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) wants an amendment that would provide airport workers with increased pay and benefits, but it’s unclear how much support he has. The Commerce Committee includes Sens. Jon Tester (D-Mont.) and Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.), both of whom rejected the $15 minimum wage push in 2021.
Senate Commerce Chair Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) isn’t super clear on the timetable for when this will all get wrapped up.
Congressional aides and committee senators said they’re hoping they could get a resolution by next week and start marking up the bill. But that’s not looking great either; an attempt to restart the markup on Wednesday in the Senate was ultimately jettisoned. And when both chambers pass the FAA, they’re going to need time to reconcile the differences of the different versions of the bill before the Sept. 30 deadline. If they don’t pass a bill by then, they’re going to have to figure out a stop-gap solution in the meantime — not ideal with government funding and the farm bill also expiring Sept. 30. “Hopefully we’ll get a resolution soon,” Cantwell told Huddle. “And we'll get the last of the issues dealt with.” Meanwhile, on the House side: Lawmakers churned through dozens of amendments late last night as they work toward final passage on their FAA bill. Aside from the defeated DCA flights amendment we mentioned at the top, they also considered:
- Pilot training: A proposal from Buffalo-area representatives to strip language from the bill allowing additional flight simulator time to count toward the 1,500 hour training requirement for prospective pilots passed Wednesday evening. (So, basically, the House voted to retain current pilot training rules.)
- Vaccine requirements: An amendment that would require the reinstatement of pilots who were fired because they had refused to take Covid vaccines, led by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), failed Wednesday evening.
| | | | A message from PBM Accountability Project: PBM profits are tied to the cost of drugs. That means that PBMs make more money if drug prices are higher. Let’s end the PBM shell game once and for all. Learn more. | | | GOOD MORNING! Welcome to Huddle, the play-by-play guide to all things Capitol Hill, on this Thursday, July 20, where we hope you celebrated National Hot Dog Day like Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah). IF THERE’S AN ABORTION VOTE, WHO WOULD SWING? There’s finally some movement concerning Tuberville’s blockade of military promotions over a Pentagon abortion policy. Schumer said Wednesday afternoon that he’s amenable to scheduling a vote that would repeal the Pentagon’s policy of providing paid leave to service members seeking an abortion. The vote would likely be an amendment to the must-pass National Defense Authorization Act, which requires a simple majority to be added to the bill. How that vote would shake out: Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.), who sits on the Armed Services committee, said Wednesday he is confident the measure would fail. The Senate’s typical swing votes on abortion apparently aren’t willing to weigh in yet:
- Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.): His office said he had not made a public statement.
- Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska): “Let's wait and see what happens.”
- Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine): We didn’t see her in the halls after Schumer’s announcement, and she did not respond to a request for comment.
A Democratic aide told Burgess that the party is also open to granting a standalone vote apart from the NDAA, though there’s no chance that would clear a filibuster.
We’re also keeping an eye out for Tuberville (R-Ala.), who hasn’t weighed in yet on whether the vote would be enough to get him to drop his holds on hundreds of military promotions. The Alabama Republican has said he wants the policy overturned, so a failed vote doesn’t get him what he wants. But members of both parties have grown tired of Tuberville’s monthslong blockade, and pressure has mounted on the Alabama Republican.
| | | | STEP INSIDE THE GOLDEN STATE POLITICAL ARENA: POLITICO’s California Playbook newsletter provides a front row seat to the Golden State’s political power centers, from inside the state Capitol and governor's mansion in Sacramento, to the mayor’s office and City Council and Los Angeles, to the influence of Silicon Valley. Authors Lara Korte and Dustin Gardiner bring you exclusive news, buzzy scoops and behind-the-scenes details that you simply will not get anywhere else. Subscribe today and stay ahead of the game! | | | | | DEMS PREP FOR HEARING WITH A “KOOK” Republicans Kennedy to testify today on alleged social media bias, given he was temporarily blocked from Instagram over posting anti-vaccine conspiracies. Democrats see it as a troll of President Joe Biden. Background: Aside from his famous family, Kennedy is best known as an anti-vaccine activist who has gained more notoriety in his way-longshot bid for the Democratic presidential nomination. More recently, he’s spurred headlines for falsely suggesting the coronavirus pandemic spared Jews and Chinese people. What to expect from Dems: Democratic members of the panel told Nicholas and Jordain they’ll spend their time rebutting and refuting Kennedy’s conspiracy theories during a hearing they regard as a sideshow. Expect some fiery language, against both Kennedy himself and the Republicans who brought him there. Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.) put Democrats’ position plainly: The hearing is an attempt by Republicans to “embarrass” Biden by bringing in a presidential candidate who is a “kook.” Republicans insist the hearing is about “Big Government’s censorship of Americans and nothing else.” Read more from Nicholas and Jordain. — Nicholas Wu and Jordain Carney
| | | | A message from PBM Accountability Project:   | | | | | It’s former member (and lobbyist) season: Our team spotted a ton of former Congress-critters on the Hill on Wednesday: Former Reps. Rodney Davis (R-Ill.), Steve Watkins (R-Kan.), Katie Hill (D-Calif.), Ed Royce (R-Calif.) and Van Taylor (R-Texas). Another spotted on the Hill on Wednesday — White House hopeful Chris Christie. Interesting… As Doug Heye pointed out, the Capitol Dome was not lit last night during late votes. Hm. QUICK LINKS Feinstein says late husband’s trust not paying her medical bills, asks court for more control, by The Los Angeles Times’s Benjamin Oreskes Marjorie Taylor Greene’s explicit visuals at Hunter Biden hearing draw rebuke, by The Washington Post’s Mariana Alfaro It’s not just military leaders: Tuberville hold scrambles Pentagon’s policy shop, by Lara Seligman Dems start Round One in Supreme Court ethics ‘boxing match’, from Katherine and Burgess A Day in the Life of Congress’s “Traffic Cop”, by The New Yorker’s E. Tammy Kim TODAY IN CONGRESS The House convenes at 9 a.m. for legislative business. First and last votes are expected at9:45 a.m. The Senate convenes at 10 a.m. on with two votes at 12 p.m. Additional votes are possible during Thursday’s session.
| | | | SUBSCRIBE TO POWER SWITCH: The energy landscape is profoundly transforming. Power Switch is a daily newsletter that unlocks the most important stories driving the energy sector and the political forces shaping critical decisions about your energy future, from production to storage, distribution to consumption. Don’t miss out on Power Switch, your guide to the politics of energy transformation in America and around the world. SUBSCRIBE TODAY. | | | | | AROUND THE HILL 9 a.m. Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) and Oversight members will host a press conference on the upcoming Oversight Committee hearing on UAPs. (HVC Studio A) 9:15 a.m. Rep. Tony Cárdenas (D-Calif.), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-Calif.) and Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) join justice advocates to announce juvenile protection legislation. (House Triangle) 10 a.m. Reps. Nicole Malliotakis (R-N.Y.), Mike Quigley (D-Ill.), Zach Nunn (R-Iowa), Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.) will host a press conference on the Goldie’s Act, which would protect dogs in puppy mills. Bellamy Young, award-winning actor and animal advocate, will also be in attendance. 11:30 a.m. Reps. Brendan Boyle (D-Pa.) and Donald Norcross (D-N.J.) will host a press conference to announce the Tax Fairness for Workers Act. (House Triangle) 12 p.m. Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) will host a press conference on the southern border (SRTVG Studio) 12:30 p.m. Rep. Joe Morelle (D-N.Y.) will host a press conference to speak in support of Freedom to Vote Act. (House Triangle) 1:30 p.m. Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) will host a press conference on VA hospitals. (Senate Swamp)
| | TUESDAY’S WINNER: Joe Bookman correctly guessed Woodrow Wilson was both married and had a child in the White House? His daughter’s name was Jessie Wilson Sayre, who married Francis Bowes Sayre, Sr. on November 25, 1913. She is also the mother of Francis Bowes Wilson, Jr., born January 17, 1915. TODAY’S QUESTION from Joe: In 1897, five members of the House of Representatives participated in the first intercontinental game of chess among elected government leaders. What country's legislative body did they compete with? And who won? The first person to correctly guess gets a mention in the next edition of Huddle. Send your answers to aadragna@politico.com. GET HUDDLE emailed to your phone each morning. Follow Daniella and Anthony on Twitter at @DaniellaMicaela and @AnthonyAdragna. | | | | A message from PBM Accountability Project: Every time you go to the pharmacy counter, health insurance middlemen called pharmacy benefit managers – or PBMs – increase their already high profits. Last year alone, the top 3 PBMs recorded more than $27 billion in profits.
It’s time to end the PBM shell game. There is growing, bipartisan agreement in Congress to break the link between the price of medicine and PBM revenues to help Americans afford and access their medications.
Voters agree. More than 80% of voters want to stop PBMs from directly profiting off drug prices.
We need actionable reforms to hold PBMs accountable and to address the games they play that drive up out-of-pocket costs at the pharmacy counter. Decisive action is needed by Congress today. Learn more. | | | | | | | Follow us | | | | |
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