Monday, April 14th, 2025
Federal Budget Framework: The House passed H.Con.Res.14 (216-214), the Senate budget bill that outlines spending for the federal government for the next 10 years. The measure calls for steep tax cuts, an increase in spending for immigration enforcement, an expansion of the Pentagon as well as unspecified spending cuts and, a $5 trillion debt limit increase.
More specifically, the plan allows up to $5.3 trillion in tax cuts over the next decade. It will extend the 2017 tax cuts President Trump signed into law with the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and provide for an additional $1.5 trillion in new tax cuts.
It also directs both chambers to slash the deficit through spending cuts, with the Senate setting a minimum of just $4 billion for the next decade and the House calling for $1.5 trillion in cuts over the same period. The chamber has also set aside an additional $175 billion for border enforcement and $150 billion for defense spending. Lawmakers will now begin the process of drafting a budget package.
SAVE: The House passed H.R.22 (220-208), which would require all applicants using the federal voter registration form to provide documentary proof of citizenship in person at their local election office. Among the acceptable documents are a valid U.S. passport and a government-issued photo ID card presented alongside a certified birth certificate. The bill now heads to the Senate.
No Rogue Rulings: The House passed H.R.1526 (219-213), which would limit the power of district judges to impose nationwide injunctions. The 2-page bill would limit the power of the 677 District Court judges to issue injunctions that restrict those beyond the parties directly involved in a case, effectively blocking nationwide injunctions. This comes after Judge James Boasberg barred the Trump administration from using the Alien Enemies Act to deport Venezuelan migrants.
Repealing Presidential Tariffs: House Republicans used all their legislative tools to prevent future votes on repealing President Donald Trump's tariffs -- doubling down on their support for the administration's policies as lawmakers narrowly passed a procedural hurdle to advance the Senate-approved GOP blueprint. GOP leaders inserted language into the "rule" for the budget blueprint that would prohibit the House, until at least September, from forcing a vote on legislation to rescind President Trump's national emergencies authority, which he used to issue the tariffs.
Repeal Limits on Excessive Overdraft Fees Rule: The House passed S.J.Res.18 (217-211), which would repeal the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection’s rule that limits steep overdraft fees charged by large banks and credit unions. The Biden administration rule curbs excessive overdraft fees in a flexible manner by giving banks and credit unions with more than $10 billion in assets the option of charging $5 or a fee that covers “no more than costs or losses.” The rule gives big banks and credit unions a variety of options to cover overdrafts. The bill now goes to the President, who is expected to sign it.
Digital Payment App Rule: The House passed S.J.Res.28 (219-213), which would repeal a Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) rule called "Defining Larger Participants of a Market for General-Use Digital Consumer Payment Applications," which would have subjected digital payment apps to federal oversight. Essentially, it would have brought non-bank digital payment app providers, like Venmo and Apple Pay, under the CFPB's regulatory umbrella like banks and credit unions.
Water Heater Rule: The Senate passed H.J.Res.20 (53-44), which repeals the Department of Energy’s final rule issued on Dec. 26, 2024, setting new standards for instantaneous gas-fired tankless water heaters and set to take effect on Dec. 26, 2029. The rule would mandate a minimum efficiency level for the water heaters. The bill will now go to President Trump, who is expected to sign it.
