(UBS)
One item that the Senate did finish work on was a bipartisan continuing resolution (CR) to extend government funding, which is currently slated to run out at the end of this fiscal year. Over the weekend the Senate advanced the CR extending current funding through December 11. The bill will still need to pass the House when they return at the end of August. The House passed a more stripped-down funding extension last month that did not include many of the deviations in current spending that the Trump administration had requested. House Republican leadership will now take a temperature check with members and may find frustrations among Republicans and seek changes to gain House approval, which would then require the Senate to take up the bill again in September.
What the Senate Passed. Besides the funding bill, the Senate completed action on a Russia sanctions bill and confirmation of a large number of nominations (79), including Todd Blanche to serve as Attorney General.
- Russia Sanctions: The Senate passed a bipartisan Russia sanctions bill championed by the late Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT). The legislation would target senior Russian leaders and a wide range of entities helping Russia evade existing sanctions. It also would impose up to 100% tariffs on the top five countries purchasing Russian oil. The House has its own competing bill on Russia sanctions that would require new sanctions and export control authorities on Russia and would authorize new spending to arm Ukraine. However, that bill has not gained traction in the Senate or with President Trump. The Senate’s Russia sanctions bill is likely to become law, though it remains to be seen whether the House will prioritize the bill when it gets back in September.
- Attorney General Nomination: The Trump administration was able to get a win with the approval of acting Attorney General Todd Blanche’s nomination out of the Senate Judiciary Committee. That proved elusive the previous week when Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Thom Tillis (R-NC) withheld their support. They relented when the Justice Department agreed to make a written commitment to kill a USD 1.8 billion government weaponization fund and tighten up Trump’s audit immunity deal. While this was a critical milestone for Blanche’s nomination, other obstacles remained. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) opposed Blanche’s nomination and with Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) still absent from the Senate due to illness, Blanche could not afford to lose any other Republican votes. The nomination came down to Senator Bill Cassidy’s (R-LA) vote, who ultimately voted for Blanche’s confirmation. The Senate was able to approve Blanche’s nomination over the weekend, ending the weeks long back-and-forth with the White House and Senate Republican holdouts.
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