Thursday: Spending bill, energy

by Jordain Carney - 10/08/15 9:45 AM ET

The Senate will take a procedural bill Thursday on taking up a spending bill for energy and water development.

Senators are expected to take the cloture vote at 12:45 p.m.

{mosads}Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) teed up the bill despite a Democratic pledge to block every spending bill until lawmakers reach a deal that would increase spending for defense and nondefense programs.

The administration has also threatened to veto the bill, saying it “drastically underfunds” energy programs.

Meanwhile, the House is expected to take up legislation that supporters say will streamline oversight for energy developement on Indian and Alaska Native Corporation lands.

The administration has voiced opposition to the bill, saying the legislation would “undermine public participation and transparency of review of projects on Indian lands under the National Environmental Policy Act, set unrealistic deadlines and remove oversight for appraisals of Indian lands or trust assets, and prohibit awards under the Equal Access to Justice Act or payment of fees or expenses to a plaintiff from the Judgment Fund in energy-related actions.”

Votes in the House still need to be scheduled.

Tags Mitch McConnell