November 15
This week in MORE POWER:
New Term, New Leadership
Funding Rural Schools
Taxes and Terrorism
Expanding Reemployment
A Win for Social Security
New Term, New Leadership
When the new Senate is sworn in on Jan. 3, 2025, Republicans will hold the majority. This week, Senate Republicans held a vote for who will be the Senate majority leader and decided on Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) over Trump loyalists, Sens. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) and John Cornyn (R-Texas). In this role, Thune will oversee the Senate's agenda, schedule debates, and coordinate party strategy. This transition marks the end of Sen. Mitch McConnell’s (R-Ky.) time as Senate Republican leader, as he steps down from his long-held leadership role.
Funding Rural Schools
The Senate passed the Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act, which would extend funding for rural counties and schools under a program known as the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 (SRS Act). Supporters say extending this program and its funding through 2026 would allow these areas to continue supporting schools, libraries, and essential public services, which will simultaneously improve students’ lives and education.
Taxes and Terrorism
The House narrowly voted against the Stop Terror-Financing and Tax Penalties on American Hostages Act, which would allow tax deadlines to be postponed, as well as waive Internal Revenue Service (IRS) late fees for Americans who were detained or held hostage abroad. The bill contains a controversial provision that would allow the Department of State and the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control to designate certain nonprofits as supporters of terrorist organizations, which could lead to their tax-exempt status being taken away. Since a tax-exempt status enables nonprofits to receive tax-deductible donations, losing it could severely impact their funding. Opponents of the bill argue that this provision could interfere with free speech. The final margin was 256 votes for the bill and 145 against; the bill needed a two-thirds majority to pass, which equals 290 votes.
Expanding Reemployment
The Senate passed the Building on Reemployment Improvements to Deliver Good Employment (BRIDGE) for Workers Act. It has already passed in the House, so it is heading to President Biden’s desk to either be signed into law or vetoed. This bill would permanently allow states to use federal grants to help all people receiving unemployment benefits receive support finding a job. Normally, these grants only cover people who are close to running out of their benefits and need extra help with job searches. If this bill becomes law, states can give this extra help, often referred to as “reemployment services,” to anyone receiving unemployment benefits – not just those whose benefits may run out before they are able to get another job.
A Win for Social Security
Last week, we mentioned that the House was scheduled to vote on both the Social Security Fairness Act. This week, the House passed the bill, which is intended to ensure that those who receive government or public pensions get their full Social Security benefits by eliminating the Government Pension Offset (GPO) and Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP), which both reduce Social Security benefits. Now, this bill’s fate is in the hands of the Senate.