MEMORANDUM
TO: Legislative Policy Committee
FROM: Chris Giglio, CapitalEdge
DATE: October 1, 2024
SUBJECT: Federal Update
Apologies for not being able to attend the October Legislative Policy Committee Meeting. In lieu of an in-person report, the following are highlights of recent activities in Washington, DC:
After a six-week summer recess, Congress was in session for two-and-a-half weeks in September, largely to address the fact that the House and Senate are not close to completing a FY 2025 budget prior to the October 1 start of the new fiscal year.
After some failed attempts by House Republican leadership to include provisions in a budget stopgap that would have required proof of citizenship when registering to vote, last week, Congress approved, and the President signed, a Continuing Resolution to keep the government running at FY 2024 levels in the absence of a final FY 2025 budget from October 1 through December 20.
The Continuing Resolution also includes additional funding to FEMA for natural disasters – although not enough – as well as additional funds for the Secret Service for increased protection of both Presidential candidates.
Following the budget votes, both the House and Senate adjourned and headed home to campaign.
Right now, both chambers are not expected back to the Capitol until November 12, but the President said this week that he may ask Congress to return to DC to vote on an emergency supplemental budget bill to provide disaster assistance to Southeastern states and other areas that have suƯered recent natural disasters.
Upon Congress’ return, they will use the post-election “lame duck” session mainly to finalize a FY 2025 budget and organize for the January start of the 119th Congress.
The results of the election will likely play a role in those budget negotiations, as Republicans or Democrats seeking leverage may attempt to extend the budget stopgap into calendar year 2025 when a new Congress is installed.