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Congress is in Session this Week as it Works to Avoid a Government Shutdown

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Congress is in Session this Week as it Works to Avoid a Government Shutdown

The House and Senate are in session this week, with both chambers expected to recess until after the November elections as soon as they complete work on a Continuing Resolution (CR) to keep the government funded through December 20th.

The Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act (H.R.___/Section-by-Section Summary) that was unveiled Sunday by House and Senate leadership. Although Speaker Mike Johnson had initially pushed for a six-month CR and the inclusion of the SAVE Act (H.R.8281), he urged Republicans in a “Dear Colleague” letter to move forward on a short-term stopgap that will keep the government open and can pass both chambers, writing, “As history has taught and current polling affirms, shutting the government down less than 40 days from a fateful election would be an act of political malpractice.”

Beyond the extension of government funding at FY2024 levels through December 20th, the relatively clean CR contains:

  • $231 million in funding for the Secret Service in support of protective operations for the duration of the CR, coupled with spending flexibilities.
  • Funding for activities related to the presidential transition ($25 million) and inauguration planning and security ($47 million).
  • Extensions of the National Flood Insurance Program and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program for the duration of the CR.
  • Health extenders, including:
    • Programs relating to autism.
    • Availability of No Surprises Act implementation funding.
    • FDA Rare Pediatric Disease Priority Review Voucher designations.
    • Medicaid funding for the Northern Mariana Islands to address a shortfall.
    • A one-year delay of changes to Medicare’s Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule and additional funding for the Medicare Improvement Fund.

The CR does not include supplemental funding for disaster relief, though it contains language authorizing spending flexibility in the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Disaster Relief Fund for declared disasters for the duration of the CR.

The House plans to vote first on the CR but given the slim majority – and opposition to a clean CR from several conservatives –the CR will go to the floor under a suspension of the rules that would require a two-thirds majority. There are more than enough votes between Republicans and Democrats for passage.

It will take cooperation in the Senate to pass the CR this week. Senate Republicans may demand amendment votes in exchange for timely passage, including on spending cuts or the SAVE Act, but any agreement reached on amendments will be certain to result in an unchanged bill and timely passage of the CR.  Most members are eager to finish out this work period and turn their eyes exclusively toward the election.

The House Rules Committee will also consider, as previously scheduled:

  • STOP CCP Act (H.R.3334), which would authorize visa- and property-blocking sanctions on members of the CCP’s Central Committee and their families.
  • Keeping Violent Offenders Off Our Streets Act (H.R.8205), which would authorize the use of Byrne grant funds for public safety report systems for violent offenses and further define bail bonds as insurance products to ensure compliance with insurance fraud laws and background check requirements.
  • Fix Our Forests Act (H.R.8790), which is comprehensive bipartisan legislation to improve forest management activity and community resiliency.
  • A resolution (H.Res.1469) condemning key Administration officials by name for decision-making failures related to the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Beyond the CR and other measures being taken up by the Rules Committee, the House will also consider over three dozen bills under suspension from the Oversight and Accountability, Energy and Commerce, Homeland Security, Foreign Affairs, Judiciary, Administration, and Science, Space, and Technology Committees, including:

  • HEARTS Act (H.R.6829), which would authorize the Cardiomyopathy Education and Awareness Program to facilitate public awareness and education.
  • Sickle Cell Disease and Other Heritable Blood Disorders Research, Surveillance, Prevention, and Treatment Act (H.R.3884), which would reauthorize the Sickle Cell Disease Treatment Demonstration Program through FY2028.
  • Charlotte Woodward Organ Transplant Discrimination Prevention Act (H.R.2706), which would prohibit entities involved in matching donated organs from denying or restricting access based solely on an individual’s disability.
  • NAPA Reauthorization Act (S.133), which would reauthorize the National Alzheimer’s Project through FY2035 and expand the Advisory Council on Alzheimer’s Research, Care, and Services.
  • Alzheimer’s Accountability and Investment Act (S.134), which would require the National Institutes of Health to submit an annual estimate of its budget and personnel needs for the National Alzheimer’s Project.
  • Congenital Heart Futures Reauthorization Act (H.R.7189), which would reauthorize the CDC-administered National Congenital Heart Disease Research, Surveillance, and Awareness Program through FY2029.
  • Emerging Innovative Border Technologies Act (H.R.7832), which would require the Secretary of Homeland Security to develop a plan for identifying and deploying emerging or advanced technologies to enhance border security.
  • CTPAT Pilot Program Act (S.794), which would require Homeland Security to carry out a pilot program to assess whether allowing certain third-party logistics providers to participate in the Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism.
  • DHS Joint Task Forces Reauthorization Act (S.4698), which would extend the Department’s authority to create and operate Joint Task Forces through 2026.
  • PATHS Act (H.R.9459), which would extend the Department of Homeland Security’s authority to carry out research and development pilot programs through 2027 and authorize the use of other transaction agreements.
  • DHS Cybersecurity On-the-Job Training Program Act (H.R.3208), which would establish a voluntary cybersecurity training program within the Department for employees who are not currently in cybersecurity positions.
  • U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom Reauthorization Act (S.3764), which would reauthorize the Commission through FY2026.
  • NASA Reauthorization Act (H.R.8958), which contains a comprehensive authorization of NASA programs and policies.
  • ASCEND Act (H.R.6219), which would authorize in statute NASA’s Commercial SmallSat Data Acquisition Program.
  • Next Generation Pipelines Research and Development Act (H.R.7073), which would authorize a Department of Energy-led demonstration initiative and research and development program for next generation pipelines.
  • Building Chips in America Act (S.2228), which would streamline federal reviews for microchip manufacturing facilities.  

 

Congressional Agenda 

National Defense Authorization Act (H.R.2670/S.4638): Because the Senate does not plan to take up the must-pass NDAA on the floor before the end of the year, Armed Services Committee Chair Jack Reed (D-RI) and Ranking Member Roger Wicker (R-MS) have instead filed a manager’s package of 93 amendments – agreed to on a bipartisan basis by Committee leadership, relevant committees of jurisdiction, and Senate leadership – that will be considered within scope of bicameral negotiations on a final agreement. Notable provisions include:

  • FY2025 Intelligence Authorization Act (S.Amdt.3209) and Department of State Authorization Act (S.Amdt.3282)
  • Asset Seizure for Ukraine Reconstruction Act (S.Amdt.2402)
  • State Trade Expansion Program Modernization Act (S.Amdt.2452)
  • U.S. Foundation for International Conservation Act (S.Amdt.3101)
  • Economic Development Reauthorization Act (S.Amdt.3103)
  • International Nuclear Energy Act (S.Amdt.3197)
  • Coordinating AUKUS engagement with Japan (S.Amdt.3166)
  • Outbound investment transparency (S.Amdt.3284)
  • Sharing of information with respected to suspected violations of intellectual property rights (S.Amdt.2955)

Oversight: Over a dozen oversight-related hearings are lined up this week, including:

 

Biden Administration

  • Today the President will deliver remarks at the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, Global Coalition to Address Synthetic Drug Threats, and the Bloomberg Global Business Forum.
  • On Wednesday, the President will meet with General Secretary Tô Lâm of Vietnam and the President and First Lady will host a reception at the Metropolitan Museum of Art before departing New York for Washington.
  • On Thursday, the President will hold a bilateral meeting with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine and the President and Vice President will deliver remarks on gun violence.

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