December 15

This week in MORE POWER:
Biden Supplemental on Life Support
Congress Finally Funds Military Pay
Delayed Deadlines Coming Up
Shaky Nutrition Program Funding
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Both chambers of Congress had scheduled today as their last day in D.C. for the year. But yesterday, the Senate announced that they will reconvene to hold votes again next week. The House left for the break, and members will stay in their districts unless leadership calls them back to vote on one of the many bills currently in negotiation.

Biden Supplemental on Life Support

As Republicans continue to block President Biden’s $106B security funding request for Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan, and the U.S-Mexico border until anti-asylum provisions make it in the bill, Ukrainian President Zelensky came to D.C. to drum up support for more funding to fight Russia.

The Biden administration is doing their best to speed things along, even going as far as to give into significant changes on asylum and immigration policy, like those similar to what the Trump administration did under Title 42. That policy allowed the detention and deportation of migrants, often without asylum hearings. Progressives in Congress and immigrant activists are frustrated with Biden’s willingness to go back. Senators are still working to make a deal on the supplemental, and coming back to D.C. next week is a sign of progress on a potential vote. But many Republican senators are expected to stay home, leaving questions on whether there would be enough members in town for the bill to reach the 60 vote threshold to pass.

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Congress Finally Funds Military Pay

Both chambers of Congress passed the final National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) this week along bipartisan lines. President Biden can sign it into law at any time.

The Senate was expected to pass the bill, but conservative members of the House were unhappy that it did not contain the policies they wanted to see like a ban on funding for drag shows paid for with military funding (which has never happened) and an end to reimbursements for service member travel for abortion care, so their support was unexpected.

The NDAA funds military personnel for 2024 and gives them a 5.2% raise. It also includes an extension of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, and the controversial program known as Section 702 that the government has used for warrantless data collection on Americans, until April 19. Congress will have to reauthorize the FISA program in a separate bill next year before the Spring deadline.

Delayed Deadlines Coming Up

The first few months of 2024 contain several important legislative deadlines for Congress:

January: Budget Round 1

Congress must pass the Agriculture, Energy and Water, Military Construction-VA and Transportation-HUD budget bills by January 19, otherwise there will be a partial government shutdown that puts Women Infant Children Program (WIC) benefits, on time air and train service, and military family housing in jeopardy.

February: Budget Round 2

Congress must pass the other eight budget bills by February 2, or the parts of the federal government impacted by these bills could shut down:

Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act

March: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reauthorization

This week, the House passed a short term funding extension for the FAA through March 8 in the Airport and Airway Extension Act. The Senate is expected to vote on the bill next week. This extension buys time for the federal government to avoid travel delays due to a funding gap.

You can use the links above to read about the bills, and take action.

Shaky Nutrition Program Funding

The second stop gap funding bill, the Further Continuing Appropriations and Other Extensions Act, signed into law by President Biden last month contains a one year extension to the Farm Bill that otherwise would have expired at the end of 2023. Congress has until next fall to pass the full five-year Farm Bill.

The Farm Bill funds agricultural programs, and it also funds the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). If the government shuts down in the new year, SNAP benefits will not expire until the end of September, giving beneficiaries some breathing room. However, the Farm Bill does not include funding for the Women, Infant, Children Program (WIC). That means if budget negotiations in Congress collapse in January and the government shuts down, WIC loses funding, putting benefits in jeopardy for millions of parents and children.

The National Cattleman’s Beef Association wants to see more money in the final Farm Bill put toward the national animal vaccine bank to prevent and contain any potential foot and mouth disease outbreaks, more voluntary land conservation efforts to promote sustainability in the industry, alongside more disaster assistance and risk management programs for ranchers.

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