Congress Passes a CR to Fund the Federal Government through Dec. 16th

Posted on October 17, 2022

On September 30th, Congress passed a continuing resolution (CR) to extend the current funding levels for the federal government through December 16, averting a partial government shutdown and extending time for Congress to agree on and pass the funding bills for FY2023. The CR passed the Senate after Sen. Manchin (D-WV) removed his pipeline permit measure which was opposed by both Republicans and progressive Democrats. In addition to extending the current funding levels, the CR included $17 billion in emergency funding for Ukraine, $19 billion for FEMA for disaster relief, and reauthorized the Food and Drug Administration’s user fee programs, but it did not include President Biden’s request for COVID-19 and monkeypox response funding.

Both chambers are now in recess until after the midterms after which they will have to return to reach an agreement on the FY23 funding bills. Our office will continue to monitor and publish FY23 activity.

More information on the continuing resolution can be found here.

Biden Signs Reconciliation Bill

Posted on August 22, 2022

Last Tuesday, President Biden signed into law H.R. 5376, the Inflation Reduction Act. Though smaller than the original plans for a reconciliation package, both the Biden Administration and Congressional Democrats are touting the measure as a major accomplishment.

Senate Clears Reconciliation Package; House to Take It Up Friday

Posted on August 9, 2022

After a marathon series of votes on amendments over the weekend, the Senate cleared by a vote of 51-50 a version of the reconciliation budget package. With all 50 Democrats supporting the measure and all 50 Republicans voting against it, Vice President Harris cast the tie-breaking vote. Because the measure isa reconciliation bill, which provided it procedural protections, it could move forward in the Senate with a simple majority vote.

The House is currently scheduled to take it up on Friday.

We will provide further details about the bill in the near future.

Biden Announces SCOTUS Pick

Posted on February 25, 2022

President Biden confirmed his intention to nominate Ketanji Brown Jackson, of DC, to be an Associate Justice on the Supreme Court of the United States. She will replace retiring Justice Breyer.

The Senate is expected to move quickly on her confirmation process once the nomination is received, adding to an already busy 2022 agenda.

Another CR Pushed Through To Buy More Time

Posted on February 9, 2022

The House passed on a bipartisan basis yesterday another short-term continuing resolution (CR) to keep the federal government open past the current deadline of midnight, February 19. The Senate is expected to follow suit.

While a number of issues have created problems with respect to the completion of funding bills for FY2022 — which started October 1– one of the biggest hurdles has been the inability of the two parties to come to an agreement on “top line” numbers, the overall funding levels for both defense and non-defense programs. The passage of another short-term CR allows the various negotiators to continue conversations without risking a government shutdown in less than two weeks. The CR that was agreed to by the House last evening would keep the government funded through March 11.