"Congress' 2017 Achievements: A Year in Review"

Congressional Achievements in 2017: A Year in Review

The year 2017 was a busy one for the U.S. Congress, marked by significant legislative actions, committee work, and oversight. Here's a comprehensive look at what Congress accomplished, organized by key areas of focus.

Major Legislative Achievements

Congress passed several notable bills in 2017, including:

• Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (H.R.1): Signed into law by President Trump in December, this comprehensive tax reform bill provides significant tax cuts for businesses and individuals.
• National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2018 (H.R.2810): This annual defense policy bill authorized $700 billion in military spending, the largest amount ever.
• Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) (S.722): This bipartisan bill imposed new sanctions on Russia, Iran, and North Korea, and was signed into law in August.

Healthcare and Entitlements

Congress made progress on healthcare and entitlement programs in 2017, including:

• Opioid Crisis Response: Congress passed several bills to address the opioid epidemic, including the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA) (H.R.5041) and the Opioid Crisis Response Act (H.R.6).
• Medicare and Medicaid Extenders Act (H.R.4378): This bill extended several Medicare and Medicaid programs, including the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and was signed into law in December.

Infrastructure and Transportation

Congress took steps to improve the nation's infrastructure and transportation systems in 2017, including:

• FAA Reauthorization Act (H.R.2578): This bill reauthorized the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and included provisions to improve air traffic control, airport infrastructure, and aviation safety.
• Water Infrastructure Improvement Act (WIIA) (S.612): This bill authorized $6 billion in funding for water infrastructure projects and was signed into law in December.

Oversight and Investigations

Congress conducted numerous oversight hearings and investigations in 2017, focusing on a wide range of issues, including:

• Russian Interference in the 2016 U.S. Elections: Both the House and Senate Intelligence Committees conducted extensive investigations into Russia's interference in the 2016 elections.
• Healthcare.gov Website Glitches: The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee held hearings on the glitches that plagued the Healthcare.gov website during its launch in 2013.

Committee Work and Hearings

Congressional committees held numerous hearings and markup sessions in 2017, considering a wide range of bills and issues. Some of the most active committees included:

These hearings and markup sessions laid the groundwork for many of the legislative achievements of 2017 and will continue to shape the congressional agenda in the coming years.