White House Expected To Submit Funding Cuts That Could Upend Hard-Fought Budget Deal
Safety-net programs such as Medicaid and Medicare are expected to be in the Trump administration's crosshairs. In other news from Capitol Hill: maternal mortality legislation, the Veterans Choice Program, and medical marijuana.
Reuters:
U.S. Congress Girds For Fight Over Expected Trump Spending Cuts
The Trump administration is preparing to submit to the U.S. Congress up to $25 billion in immediate spending cuts, including possible reductions to social safety net programs, lawmakers said on Wednesday, in a move that could upend a budget deal enacted last month. The White House plan, which has not yet been unveiled, would call on Congress to rescind funding already enacted into law. It likely would be submitted next month, sometime after a recess that ends on May 7. (Cowan, 4/25)
The Hill:
Senate Panel To Vote Next Month On Maternal Mortality Bill
The Senate Health Committee will vote on a bill next month addressing increasing maternal death rates in the U.S., ranking member Patty Murray (Wash.) said Tuesday. The bill, sponsored by Sens. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) and Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.), would support state-level efforts to form review committees that specifically track and investigate pregnancy-related deaths, and then look for ways to prevent future deaths from occurring. (Hellmann, 4/24)
CQ HealthBeat:
Roe Schedules Veterans Choice Program Markup After Recess
House Veterans Affairs Chairman Phil Roe said he expects to hold a markup the week of May 7 on an as-yet-unrelased bill to overhaul and reauthorize the Veterans Choice Program, which provides private care options for veterans facing long wait times and long distances to travel to a VA facility. "We'd like to be able to get the bill on the president's desk before Memorial Day if we can," the Tennessee Republican said. "That's a pretty aggressive goal, but that's what I'd like to do." (McPherson and Mejdrich, 4/25)
The Hill:
Medical Marijuana Legislation Gets Support Of Key House Republican
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) has signed on to co-sponsor bipartisan legislation to simplify the medical marijuana research process. Goodlatte's spokeswoman, Kathryn Rexrode, told Bloomberg that Goodlatte would co-sponsor the bill with Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.). (Manchester, 4/25)
