By Mark Valentini, Vice President of Legislative Affairs
On the cusp of approving a continuing resolution (CR) to keep government funded into March 2025, with much-needed provisions extending the Farm Bill, FEMA emergency funding, reauthorization of workforce investment programs, and a one-year delay on implementation of the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA), House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) was forced to renege on the spending agreement after President-Elect Donald Trump voiced his disapproval of the legislation alongside several Republican members of Congress.
Early last week, Speaker Johnson and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) agreed to a funding measure that would continue government funding into March 2025. The agreement included several provisions friendly to PHCC policy priorities such as reauthorization of the Workforce Investment and Opportunities Act (WIOA) and a one year delay of implementation of the CTA which is expected to impose onerous requirements on business owners to disclose beneficial ownership information to the Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN). However, President-Elect Trump prefers a “clean” continuing resolution that extends current FY24 funding into March 2025 paired with an extension of the debt ceiling which the government is expected to hit on Jan. 1.
As of press time, the current continuing resolution funding the government will expire on Friday, Dec. 20, before midnight and the Biden administration is making preparations for a shutdown if there is no deal. PHCC staff is monitoring this situation closely and will provide updates as they become available. Check back on this article or our News Center for the latest.
UPDATE (written 1 p.m. ET, 12/20): On Thursday evening, Dec. 19, the House of Representatives attempted to pass a scaled-down “clean” continuing resolution supported by President-elect Trump that would fund the government into March and include an increase in the debt limit and supplemental emergency funding for FEMA. It was shot down by the majority of Democrats in addition to 38 Republicans. Speaker Johnson is attempting to negotiate a clean CR that funds government into the next month to buy time for further negotiating. However, Minority Leader Jeffries insists Republican leadership adhere to the spending bill that was originally agreed upon.
UPDATE (written 1:30 p.m. ET, 12/23): On Friday evening, Dec. 20, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a continuing resolution keeping government funded through March 14, with provisions including $110 billion in FEMA emergency disaster relief funding, and a one-year extension of the Farm Bill. The Senate passed the bill and sent it to President Biden after the midnight deadline with minimal disruption to government operations. A debt ceiling increase was not included in the package, nor were provisions supported by PHCC that would suspend implementation of the Corporate Transparency Act for one year and WIOA reauthorization. PHCC Legislative Affairs is prepared to advocate in the new Congress for WIOA Reauthorization and repeal of the Corporate Transparency Act in addition to our other priorities on energy, tax reform, and workforce.
