Congress Heads Into August Recess With Biotech and Funding Fights Unresolved

Introduction
With the August recess approaching, Capitol Hill's healthcare agenda is being compressed into a final, busy stretch of committee work.

What's on the Table
The Senate Finance Committee's Health Subcommittee is holding a hearing on biotechnology in healthcare, while the Senate Budget Committee holds its first hearing under new leadership, all ahead of the chamber's expected departure for recess.

The Funding Question
The House has already passed its version of a continuing resolution extending government funding into December, leaving the Senate to decide whether to move that bill or negotiate changes before funding deadlines approach later in the year.

A Contested Rule
A separate proposal from the Office of Management and Budget has drawn bipartisan concern for giving political appointees more control over federal grant approvals, with lawmakers requesting an extended comment period and revisions to protect rural and scientific funding recipients.

What Happens Next
With the Senate set to go on recess through late August, most unresolved healthcare and funding questions will likely wait until lawmakers return in September.