 depend on the election results. If the GOP retain the majority in Congress, Speaker Johnson will do everything in his power to avoid an end-of-year omnibus at all costs. If former President Trump wins


The reality is that the debate and


the White House, GOP leadership and conservatives in Congress may try to push passing any government 


100 days to allow the new president to put his stamp on spending. All of this posturing will have an


entirely different outcome should Vice-President Harris prevail or should the Democrats take back


the House. The bottom line: We will continue


to advocate for the inclusion of all these important provisions in any 


that passed sets up a high-stakes 


session that starts after the election. 


bills passed in the House and none in the Senate, we believe there is a


very high likelihood that at least some of these bills will need to be packaged together to become law.


Advocating for Prompt Release of Supplemental Visas The passage of the CR also means that the discretionary language


that we secured in last year’s appropriations package is now  


working  


statutory H-2B cap was met in mid- September (two weeks before 


attention towards ensuring that the Biden Administration utilize the  


we have urged the White House to promptly publish a temporary rule implementing the release of these supplemental visas. 


will strongly support increasing access to H-2B visas for foreign nationals from the Northern Triangle countries and Haiti, Colombia, Ecuador, and Costa Rica. However, as your advocates in Washington, we have expressed our concerns that these foreign governments should do more to help diminish the irregular migration from their countries by helping to streamline the application process for foreign workers from Northern Triangle nations.


Congress’ Lame Duck Session Agenda  bills, Congress will have a full agenda for the Lame Duck Session


that includes the following: • Disaster Relief Funding. The continuing resolution does not include additional disaster relief funding that many lawmakers had been seeking for their communities — and now they can only hope the situation gets addressed in the post-election lame duck session.


 The CR keeps FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund at the same level negotiated 


down that sum in order to meet needs. “It is very bittersweet that while we are saving the country and


preventing a government shutdown, we will go home to communities that are still suffering,” said Rep. Jill Tokuda (D-Hawaii), who represents  to be able to say why it was not included. And so you can just be rest assured, 


• Rebuilding the Francis Scott Key Bridge. The measure does not include a pending $4 billion supplemental request from the White House to address disaster response and recovery efforts, including to help rebuild the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, which collapsed in March after being struck by a cargo ship.


• Hurricane Helene Relief. The devastation left behind by Hurricane Helene and the widespread destruction to farm crops could trigger up to $7 billion in crop insurance payouts covering the worst-impacted commodities as bipartisan lawmakers call for more emergency aid. The Category 4 storm’s devastation comes at the start of harvest season for many farmers.


• Farm Bill Extension. In November 2023, Congress extended several farm programs through Sept. 30, 2024, after failing to pass a 


passed a multi-year extension of agriculture and nutrition programs 


expiring programs will need another extension.


• NDAA. Congress has passed an annual defense authorization bill  On June 13, the Senate Armed Services Committee reported the National Defense Authorization Act on a 22-3 vote. On June 14, the full House passed the Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense Authorization Act (H.R. 8070), 217-199. The inclusion of several social-issue provisions assured a partisan vote in the House. Congress must negotiate several differences between the two bills. Among other things, the Senate legislation authorizes


$9 billion more than the House bill. More than 1,100 amendments 


attempt to resolve differences before the bill is brought to the Senate 


• Health Care Extenders. In March, the Continuing Appropriations  through Dec. 31, including funding for Community Health Centers, National Health Service Corps, Teaching Health Centers with Graduate Medical Education, and Special Diabetes programs. It also delayed scheduled cuts for “disproportionate share” hospitals. These provisions are likely to be extended again.


• Debt Limit. The Fiscal Responsibility Act enacted in June 2023  reinstated at an amount equal to the outstanding debt at that time. Congress must determine if additional action to address the debt limit is possible in December. The Treasury Department will need to determine how much additional time might be made available by taking “extraordinary measures” to avoid default if Congress fails to act.


  Congress and the Administration.


OABA ShowTime Magazine • NOVEMBER 2024


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