In This Issue:

Leading the Past Week; Legislative Branch; Executive Branch; and Upcoming Hearings.

Excerpt from Leading the Past Week -

Members rushed out of town at the end of last week for a two-week district-work period, but not before approving a $982 billion continuing resolution (CR), ensuring that the government will stay open through the end of the fiscal year (September 30th). The CR, which included some modifications designed to help certain federal agencies deal with the sequester, passed the Senate by a vote of 73 to 26 on Wednesday and then was quickly approved by the House by a 318 to 109 vote. Both sides were also able to pass competing visions of their respective budgets before leaving town. The House Republicans passed its budget on near party-line vote after a little more than 4 hours of debate, while the Senate also approved its budget on a near party-line but only after dispensing with a “vote-a-rama” that lasted until about 5am on Saturday.