The Senate will continue work on its first appropriations bill of the year, as it hopes to wrap up work on the energy spending bill next week.
Senators are expected to vote at 11:45 a.m. on an amendment from Sen. John Hoeven (R-N.D.) to the energy and water appropriations bill.
{mosads}The amendment would block funding for the Obama administration’s Clean Water Rule, which GOP lawmakers argue is a regulatory overreach by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
The EPA says the rule is essential to protect water that more than 100 million Americans depend upon.
Hoeven’s amendment will need 60 votes to get included in the legislation.
Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), who is managing the appropriations bill for Republicans, said on Wednesday evening that senators could have more votes on Thursday afternoon.
He’s also asking his Senate colleagues to quickly file their amendments in an effort to wrap up the appropriations bill early next week.
Meanwhile, the House will take up two proposals related to the IRS. One bill would ban bonus payments until the agency develops and carries out a “comprehensive customer service strategy.”
Votes in the House are expected between 11 a.m. and noon.