THE LONG GAME: Clock is ticking on appropriations bills; Santos survives expulsion vote
Even with a November 17 deadline looming, Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) reiterated on Sunday that the House would press forward with plans to pass all 12 appropriations bills. Major issues remain, however, standing in the way of floor passage of the remaining bills. Perhaps the biggest challenge is the agriculture funding bill, which has divided GOP members because of the legislation’s ban on mail delivery of abortion pills. Additionally, the Transportation-HUD spending bill was pulled from floor consideration last week due to the Northeast Republicans who oppose the bill’s $1.5 billion dollar cut to Amtrak. Meanwhile, the Commerce-Justice-Science appropriations bill has yet to make it out of committee. The current draft of the bill would cut the budgets of the FBI and Justice Department and scale back efforts to control gun violence; according to Politico, conservative members are likely to use the bill to cut the salaries of Attorney General Merrick Garland, FBI director Christopher Wray and special counsel Jack Smith. Johnson said that top leaders worked through the weekend on a second stop-gap spending bill.
An unusual bipartisan coalition opposed a resolution to expel embattled Rep. George Santos (R-NY) last week. Most Republicans and 31 Democrats voted against punishing—at least for now-- the freshman who has lied about multiple elements of his background. In the end, only 179 members voted for the resolution; 219 were against. Most Democrats who opposed the resolution voiced concerns about due process, and worried that expelling Santos could set a dangerous precedent where members could be kicked out of the House based on partisan reasons or ideological positions. “For us to take the step of expelling someone who had not been convicted of anything would be a really dangerous maneuver, especially with the Republicans in control of the House,” said Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD), a former professor of constitutional law. Despite the result, Santos is by no means off the hook. He is the subject of a House Ethics Committee investigation and has been indicted on 23 federal criminal charges.
Washington Watch is published weekly when Congress is in session. Published monthly during extended recess or adjournment.
Spotlight on Puerto Rico
Biden, Department of Energy announce massive $440 million solar project
The Biden Administration announced that the Department of Energy is setting aside $440 million for rooftop solar panels in Puerto Rico. The project is expected to lower energy costs for up to 40,000 single-family households on the Island. This is considered a major step toward achieving Puerto Rico’s goal of 100% renewable energy by 2050. Eligible homes under this program must be located in low-income areas with frequent and/or long-term power outages or include a resident with an energy-dependent disability, such as an electric wheelchair. Three companies and five non-profits on the Island have been selected to install the solar panels.
FEMA announces new nursing home construction funding
FEMA last week announced a new series of grants totaling $6.6 million to carry out repairs to three Puerto Rican nursing homes: Hogar Santa Teresa Jornet in Cupey, Hogar Santa Marta in Ponce, and Hogar Nuestra Señora de la Providencia in Puerta de Tierra. This is on top of the $1.2 billion total that FEMA has awarded since 2017 for more than 1,100 permanent construction projects in private, nonprofit long-term care facilities and nursing homes. Approximately $4.8 million will go to Hogar Santa Maria to conduct infrastructure and electric repairs. Hogar Nuestra Señora de la Providencia has been awarded $637,200 for reconstruction and hazard mitigation. Finally, $1.2 million was awarded to Hogar Santa Teresa Jornet in Cupey for mitigation, construction and repairs to the road infrastructure around the facility.
New study shows energy costs in Puerto Rico highest in nation and expected to rise
A new study conducted by economist José Caraballo-Cueto shows that the current cost of energy in Puerto Rico is five times higher than on the mainland and will get worse with the proposed payments to bondholders of the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA). The study, called “Impact of Energy Costs on Puerto Rico’s Trade,” was commissioned by the Supermercados Selectos chain. Its findings are based not only on costs of electricity, which are technically lower than Hawaii, but also incorporated average income, which led to the report’s fivefold costs. The report says that the proposed PREPA Debt Adjustment Plan includes a “legacy cost” that will be added to energy bills for the next 35 years and recommends eliminating this legacy cost in the final PREPA Debt plan
View From The White House
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg announced Friday that the administration would invest more than $653 million in projects to improve the nation’s ports and, as a result, enhance the reliability of the supply chain.
To tackle climate change, the White House announced on Monday that it would invest $2 billion in 150 federal building projects in 39 states that use materials that minimize carbon emissions.
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced last week $5 billion in investments in rural America, including $2 billion for increased rural economic development.
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