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May 21, 2021
Congressional Climate Camps
Find out more about the briefings in this series below:
Lessons Learned from Past Congresses and Current Attitudes on Climate
Ready to make a difference in climate policy? But not sure where to start? We have you covered. The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) invites you to join us for our start-of-the-new-Congress Climate Camp online briefing series. We went over the basics of the legislative process, highlighting key areas and opportunities for achieving near-term and long-term carbon reductions through policy.
Our fifth and final session looked at budget reconciliation, an oftentimes difficult-to-understand process that allows Congress to pass laws related to taxes, spending, and the debt limit with only a majority vote in the Senate (instead of a filibuster-proof 60-vote supermajority). The Senate Parliamentarian determined that the Senate can pass two budget reconciliation bills this year, for fiscal years 2021 and 2022. But how does the process work? What are the major challenges for Congressional lawmakers and their staff in drafting and passing reconciliation bills? And why does it matter for climate policy?
This briefing discusses budget reconciliation procedures along with do’s and don’ts for those involved in the process. A moderated, 40-minute discussion follows the two speaker presentations.
Molly Reynolds, Senior Fellow – Governance Studies, Brookings
Zach Moller, Deputy Director – Economic Program, Third Way
Q&A Session
Q: Can you describe the role and selection of the Senate Parliamentarian?
Q: For someone who is thinking about how to approach reconciliation with the goal of having their boss’s priorities included in the mix, and they have something to start with that is written like a regular bill, what are some of the differences between an authorizing bill and reconciliation language? Are there elements that make authorizing text different from reconciliation text?
Q: How many times can Congress use reconciliation?
Q: What is the budget committee’s role in budget reconciliation? What is their staff working on during this time? Are they available as a resource for other Hill staff?
Q: Are there quirks or little-known details about the reconciliation process that you want to make sure Hill staffers are aware of?
Q: For someone trying to get up to speed on the reconciliation process, are there additional resources you recommend?
Highlights compiled by Ashlyn Devine