Quarterly DC Update
Check this page quarterly for an update and inside look at what policymakers are focused on and the political climate in DC.
Solutions for FY24 Spending & the Start of FY25 Appropriations
In the second quarter of 2024, Congress and the Biden administration kicked off their focus on FY 2025 appropriations. This is all taking place as the November election is swiftly approaching, with a growing number of lawmakers having announced their intent to depart early or at the end of this Congress. After President Joe Biden officially delivered his Fiscal Year 2025 budget request to Congress in March, the House and Senate Appropriations Committees have been crafting their respective draft measures for all twelve funding bills. The House Appropriations Committee has been moving their bills through the committee, and the House floor is starting to take up the bills – all of which is scheduled to be completed by the end of July. On the Senate side, the committee is planning to move their bills through the committee by the end of July, but Senate floor consideration is likely to take place after August recess. Given this timeline and a floor calendar that is further truncated due to campaign season, it is highly probable that a bipartisan, bicameral omnibus will not be reached until the lame duck session after the election (or the next Congress).
Notably, the House Appropriations Committee’s Agriculture-Rural Development funding bill includes a provision that requires the Food & Drug Administration to complete at least four pilot projects using products on the Food Traceability List. This legislation is set to be marked up by the House Appropriations Committee during the week of July 22nd.
Focus on Bipartisan Data Privacy Legislation
In April, House Energy & Commerce Committee Chairwoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) and Senate Commerce, Science & Transportation Committee Chairwoman Maria Cantwell (D-WA) reached an agreement on comprehensive data privacy legislation. While still in discussion draft form, this draft legislation represents bipartisan, bicameral agreement on data privacy protections after years of negotiations between top members of both committees of jurisdiction. The legislation proposes a national data privacy standard, which would be enforced by the Federal Trade Commission and state attorneys general. Furthermore, the legislation also proposes that individuals be provided the right to sue any entities that violate individual privacy rights, as well as to be compensated financially when they’ve been negatively impacted.
While the legislation passed through the Energy & Commerce Committee in April, the bill has since stalled due to disagreements between lawmakers and backlash from industry. As such, Chairwomen McMorris Rodgers and Cantwell are reportedly continuing to work through outstanding issues and build support to grow the momentum for the legislation to be enacted.
Farm Bill
Furthermore, lawmakers will also be focused on reauthorizing the Farm Bill during the remainder of the year. One of the continuing resolutions that was passed last year included a one-year extension of the Farm Bill, which authorizes all funding for Department of Agriculture programs until September 30th, 2024. The House Committee on Agriculture passed their Republican Farm Bill legislative text by a vote of 33-21, with four Democrats crossing the aisle to join all Republicans in support of the legislation. With such a narrow majority in the House of Representatives and broad differences on the legislation among Republicans and Democrats, as demonstrated by House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member David Scott (D-GA)’s response to the legislation. Thus, the path to the House floor is somewhat unclear, as is how the Republican majority would handle the amendment process.
Meanwhile, on the Senate side, Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) released a Democratic section-by-section proposal for the Farm Bill, while Ranking Member John Boozman (R-AR) has published Senate Republicans’ proposed framework. The Senate Republican framework is closely aligned with House Republicans’ version of the bill – with both prioritizing the farm safety net, repurposing unspent Inflation Reduction Act funding, limitations on nutrition assistance, and robust investment in rural development. With perhaps the exception of rural development programs, Republicans and Democrats remain far apart on negotiations as the September 30th deadline draws closer and an extension of program funding looks increasingly likely.
Other Areas
Lastly, amid a consequential election year, there will continue to be a focus on other narrower policy areas. This will mainly focus on workforce development, regulation of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), artificial intelligence regulation, potential movement on tax legislation, and a few other areas. 2024 is still poised to be an important year to watch with heavy policy activity and an unprecedented electoral season.