Congress Gets Back to Work with a Full Agenda

Congress returns from the Thanksgiving recess this week. In addition to the Build Back Better Act, which has already passed the U.S. House of Representatives and is anticipated to be voted on in the U.S. Senate before the winter holiday recess, Congress has a full agenda of other priorities it must address in the next few weeks.

Starting this week, Congress must pass a measure to continue to fund the government. The most recent spending bill extends government funding through December 3. It is likely the House and Senate will reach an agreement this week to pass another continuing resolution to extend funding to late January 2022.

Congress also must address the debt ceiling. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has indicated that the debt ceiling must be raised by December 15, but there is currently no legislation in the House or Senate to raise the debt limit.

In addition, Congress still has not passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which must be passed by the end of the year. And, the House is continuing to move forward with its investigation of the January 6 insurrection at the Capitol through activities this week by the House select committee charged with the investigation.

With high stakes and looming deadlines, this month promises to be action-packed. ANCOR will continue to monitor legislative developments, especially related to the Build Back Better Act and the inclusion of funding for Medicaid Home and Community Based Services.