December 13

This week in MORE POWER:

Budget Drama
The Disaster Trio
Secure the Premises
Saving Kids in Emergencies
Holding Amtrak Accountable

Budget Saga

The possibility of a government shutdown is looming ever closer as Congress quickly approaches its Dec. 20 deadline. Congressmembers will either have to pass a budget for fiscal year 2025 or another continuing resolution (CR), which would keep the federal government funded at its current levels until the new Congress is sworn in and can work on a new budget. Passing a full budget is virtually impossible, so another CR is likely the only way for Congress to avoid a government shutdown. House Speaker Rep. Mike Johnson (R-La.) has said that the upcoming CR is almost ready to be voted on; the complication with this CR is President Biden’s request for nearly $100 billion in disaster aid following the recent hurricanes that ripped through the Southeast. Some Congress members feel that this robust aid is necessary to help those affected, while others feel that the aid is too robust, bordering on unnecessary at points.

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The Disaster Trio

The House passed the Disaster Contract Improvement Act, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Loan Interest Payment Relief Act, and Disaster Management Costs Modernization Act. The Disaster Contract Improvement Act creates an advisory group led by FEMA to improve coordination on debris removal during disaster recovery. The group will evaluate current procedures and, if needed, develop new guidance to improve oversight, streamline reimbursements, and reduce inefficiencies. This bill is headed to President Biden’s desk.

The FEMA Loan Interest Payment Relief Act allows FEMA to reimburse local governments and electric cooperatives for interest payments on loans used for disaster recovery. The Disaster Management Costs Modernization Act would allow recipients of disaster relief assistance to use leftover management cost funds for disaster preparedness, recovery, mitigation, or administrative costs related to other disasters or emergencies. Currently, leftover management cost funds must be returned if not fully used for administering or overseeing specific disaster projects or heavily restricted. Both bills are heading to the Senate.

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Secure the Premises

The House passed the Improving Federal Building Security Act, which would require Facility Security Committees (FSCs) – which are groups that oversee security at federal buildings – to respond within 90 days to security recommendations from the Federal Protective Service (FPS). FSCs must say if they will follow or reject the recommendations, explain why, and consider the costs and benefits of their decision; then, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will track these responses and report to Congress each year on how many recommendations were accepted, rejected, or ignored. These requirements would apply to all federal facilities under the protection of FPS, which is around 8,500 facilities across the country. This bill, having already passed the Senate, is going to President Biden’s desk.

Saving Kids in Emergencies

The Senate passed a bill to increase funding for the Emergency Medical Services for Children (EMSC) Program, which enhances training, resources, and protocols for healthcare providers. If it becomes law, the Emergency Medical Services for Children Reauthorization Act would provide grants to states, hospitals, and healthcare organizations to enhance pediatric emergency readiness, improve training for healthcare providers, and ensure that emergency response systems can effectively care for children in crises. The bill would also increase the annual funding to $24.3 million for fiscal years 2025 through 2029, up from $22.3 million annually in the previous five years.

Holding Amtrak Accountable

The House passed two bills this week to attempt to hold Amtrak, the U.S. railway operator, accountable. The first bill, called the Amtrak Executive Bonus Disclosure Act, would require Amtrak to report executive bonuses. Amtrak must notify Congress 30 days before awarding a bonus and explain the amount and reasoning. After giving a bonus, Amtrak must publish details in the Federal Register within 30 days. The second bill, called the Amtrak Transparency and Accountability for Passengers and Taxpayers Act, would create more transparency by requiring Amtrak to follow federal open meeting rules but allows exceptions for sensitive topics like contract negotiations, collective bargaining, and employment matters. These bills are going to the Senate.

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