Continuing Resolution Negotiations Ongoing - No Shutdown Expected

This week’s Analysis and Commentary is entitled: “Steven’s Remarks on Accepting the RUF Award for His Advocacy and Policy Leadership.”  

Continuing Resolution Negotiations Ongoing - No Shutdown Expected. House Appropriations Chairman Tom Cole (R-OK4) says negotiations on the Continuing Resolution (CR) are “moving in the right direction,” but issues remain regarding the size of the disaster supplemental and other legislative items that might be added to the final package.  

It is possible, but not definite, that the text of the CR will be released this weekend, with the expectation that the House and Senate will complete action before the current CR expires on December 20. Consistent with this, there are no known voices on Capitol Hill that are advocating a government shutdown next weekend rather than passage of a CR.

A Busy Congress Between Now and Inauguration Day. At the beginning of most new Congresses, there is little public business to conduct between the swearing in of new Members of Congress on January 3 and the Presidential inauguration on January 20. It will be different this time. 

We expect Republicans to try to enact major changes in federal spending, taxation, and programs using the reconciliation process (explained here). That might take several months to complete. 

However, two Republican members of the House will be sworn in on January 3, with the intent of resigning on January 20 to take positions in the new Administration. That will leave Speaker Johnson with a 3-vote margin the first two weeks of the new Congress, but then a one-vote margin from late January until Special Elections are held in April. As a result, Republicans will attempt to pack as many House floor votes as they can into the two weeks between January 3 and January 20.
 
House Full Committee Leadership in the 119th Congress.  The House Republican Steering Committee and the House Democratic Caucus this week announced committee leadership in the 119th Congress, including committees of importance to FDA and the Alliance.  Subcommittee leadership will be confirmed at a later date.

House Appropriations Committee.  Congressman Tom Cole (R-OK4) will continue as Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee.  The House Democratic Caucus retained Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT3) as the lead Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee.

House Energy and Commerce.  Congressman Brett Guthrie (R-KY2) will be the next chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, replacing Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA5) who is retiring at the end of this Congress.  Congressman Guthrie is very familiar with FDA issues because he currently chairs House E&C’s Subcommittee on Health.  The House Democratic Caucus retained Congressman Frank Palone (D-NJ6) as the lead Democrat on the Energy and Commerce Committee.

Budget Resolution with Reconciliation in January. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA4) says House Republicans will move to approve a budget resolution in “early January”.  This is the first step in moving towards a Budget Reconciliation bill that will require only a simple majority in the Senate.
 
Incoming Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) would prefer that the first reconciliation measure deal with border, energy and defense measures, with other matters being left to a second reconciliation bill.  However, House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith (R-MO8) believes tax provisions should also be included in this first measure while the House Republicans have a majority of 219-215.  That majority drops to 217-215 when Congressman Mike Waltz (R-FL6) and Congresswoman Elise Stefanik (R-NY21) resign on or about January 20 due to their nominations for National Security Adviser and US Ambassador to the United Nations.

Members to Vote on Slate of 2025 Alliance Board Members.  If you are an Alliance member, you will have received a slate of board members up for election. Please vote. If you did not receive a ballot on December 6, please contact Steven Grossman or Ben Dash. 

Alliance 2025 Dues Invoices Sent to Every Member in November.  If you are an Alliance member but have not seen your invoice, please contact Steven.

One More Edition of Friday Update This Year.  Friday Update will publish next Friday, December 20, then will be on hiatus for two weeks. We expect the first edition of the new year will be on January 10.

Even though Update might not be publishing, Alliance staff remain available throughout the holidays to assist with our members' needs.