Week of May 11, 2026 Recap and Look Ahead
- Appropriations: The House Appropriations Committee advanced its FY27 Commerce-Justice Science appropriations bill and is holding a subcommittee markup of its Energy & Water appropriations bill today. When the committee returns next week, it will hold full committee markups of its Energy & Water and Legislative Branch bills. The Transportation-HUD and Interior-Environment bills will receive subcommittee-level markups on May 21.
- Reconciliation: Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough found three provisions in the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee’s title in Republicans’ reconciliation bill violated strict rules the GOP hopes to leverage to circumvent the 60-vote threshold in the Senate. MacDonough found sections related to U.S. Customs and Border Protection outside of the Homeland Security Committee’s jurisdiction. Republicans will need to rework the three sections to ensure the bill remains compliant with rules and can therefore move forward with reconciliation.
- Housing Legislation: House Financial Services Chair French Hill (R-AR) and Ranking Member Maxine Waters (D-CA) released an update to the Senate’s 21st Century ROAD Act, with a House floor vote potentially coming as soon as next week. Hill and Waters released legislative text quickly after President Trump endorsed the Senate version, which includes stronger language cracking down on institutional investors in the housing market. HUD Secretary Scott Turner issued a letter to House and Senate leadership detailing his concerns with the House’s new version of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act. Specifically, with how the bill addresses institutional investors and establishes a tenant hotline.
- Surface Transportation Reauthorization: The surface transportation bill markup that was expected on May 20 has been pushed back due to a House schedule change, with no new date set yet. Rail safety provisions and top-line funding remain unresolved, but Transportation & Infrastructure Committee Chair Graves maintains that House negotiators are close to a final agreement.
Trump Administration:
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Bridge Investment NOFO: Transportation Secretary Duffy announced $3 billion available to invest in aging bridge infrastructure across the country. Two types of grants are available:
- “Planning” grants support planning, feasibility analyses, and revenue forecasting associated with the development of a future BIP-eligible project. Due June 15, 2026.
- “Bridge Project” grants support bridge replacement, rehabilitation, preservation, and protection projects with total eligible costs of $100 million or less. Due June 29, 2026.
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WaterSMART: The Bureau of Reclamation released new NOFOs for the WaterSMART Program:
- WaterSMART Title XVI Water Reclamation and Reuse Projects. First round due August 26, 2026, and second round due August 26, 2027.
- WaterSMART Desalination Construction Program for planning, design, and construction or desalination facilities for seawater or brackish groundwater or surface water. First round due August 26, 2026, and second round due August 26, 2027.
- WaterSMART Enhancing Water Resources Projects for collaboratively developed projects that benefit multiple water users, improve water supply reliability, and enhance watershed health. First round due September 9, 2026, and second round due September 8, 2027.
- FEMA: President Trump formally nominated Cam Hamilton to lead FEMA on May 11. Hamilton previously served as Acting Administrator but was let go after clashing with former DHS Sec. Noem.
The Week’s News: