Congress Advances Ukraine Aid Package as Budget Reconciliation Negotiations Continue

Both chambers of Congress are in session this week, with the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate both attempting to advance various legislative priorities including the passage of aid for Ukraine and a COVID-19 relief package. On Monday, Democratic leaders announced they had reached a bipartisan deal to advance $39.8 billion in aid to Ukraine. The deal does not pair the Ukraine aid with COVID-19 relief funds, making a path forward for a standalone bill to provide COVID-19 funding unlikely.

In the Senate, there will be a vote this week on a bill to codify abortion rights into federal law, a measure in response to the leaked U.S. Supreme Court opinion that would, if handed down in its current version, overturn the Roe v. Wade decision.

Senate discussions over what provisions may be included in the revised budget reconciliation package are ongoing this week. There are reports that aside from the three main proposals about climate change, prescription drug reform, and deficit reduction that will likely be included, negotiations over additional social spending proposals are continuing. Senators Patty Murray (D-WA) and Tim Kaine (D-VA) are working to include a child care proposal that would increase funding for the Child Care and Development Block Grant program, while Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) continues to call for the inclusion of funding for the Medicaid Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) program.

Given the ongoing negotiations, it is critical that Senators hear from ANCOR members about the importance of including HCBS funding in the budget reconciliation bill. Now is the time to take ANCOR’s action alert and tell your Senator to support the HCBS program today.