Congressional Insights; Policy Updates; Political Insights; NAW-PAC Ramps Up Engagement in 2024 Senate Races; NAW Members Welcome Elected Officials

August 1, 2023

Both the House and Senate were in session in July, and while busy in committees holding dozens of hearings and bill mark-ups, they adjourned for the five-week August recess without making much progress on key legislation. Once again, House Republican infighting overshadowed the legislative process.  Republicans took what should have been the easy passage of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and some initial appropriations bills and made it more difficult, as the “perfect” continues to be the enemy of the good. If anything, the division between the Freedom Caucus and more pragmatic Republicans escalated this month, with moderate members and some House Appropriations chairs publicly pushing back against right flank demands. While the House did ultimately pass the NDAA, the wheels came off during the appropriations debate and Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) had to pull the Agriculture/FDA appropriations bill from consideration over a split on language related to social issues, making it highly unlikely they will be able to pass any other appropriations bills prior to the end of the fiscal year.   Meanwhile, the Senate took two weeks to slog through dozens of amendments on their own version of the NDAA and limped into recess with a lot left on their to-do list.