Congress reconvened on November 12 following former President Donald Trump’s (R) victory in the presidential election over Vice President Kamala Harris (D) and Republicans winning majority control of both the Senate and House of Representatives on November 6. The balance of power in the Senate for the 119th Congress will be 53 Republicans to 47 Democrats. In the House, Republicans will hold a 220-seat majority, though they will start the new session with two vacant seats belonging to Rep. Mike Waltz (R-Fla.), President-elect Trump’s pick for national security adviser, and the resigned Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.). Special elections in Florida on April 1 will fill these seats. Additionally, the GOP is expected to see another vacancy upon Senate confirmation of Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.), who has been tapped to serve as ambassador to the United Nations.
The lame-duck session of the 118th Congress is in full swing, with lawmakers focused on wrapping up key business before the year ends. Newly elected lawmakers have been on Capitol Hill to attend new member orientation, while party elections have taken place to select the leaders of the Democratic and Republican parties for the 119th Congress. Key priorities that await congressional action include passing appropriations for fiscal year (FY) 2025 and avoiding a government shutdown, considering a supplemental disaster aid package, and confirming judicial nominees from the outgoing Biden administration.
With majority control in hand, House Republicans are now pushing for passage of a continuing resolution (CR) to extend government funding through March. This would give President-elect Trump greater control over FY 2025 spending decisions. Such a move could allow Republicans to push for substantial spending cuts but would also place pressure on the President to avoid a government shutdown early in his administration. While House Republicans lean toward a CR, the Democratic-controlled Senate is instead in support of an omnibus spending package.
The year-end funding deal currently under negotiation could include health care-related extensions. Republicans have proposed a three-year extension of telehealth and hospital-at-home flexibilities that were first introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic. Other GOP proposals include flat funding for community health centers, full reauthorization of the SUPPORT Act and the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act, and a 2.5% increase to Medicare physician reimbursements (to partially offset the impending 2.83% cut to physician payments). To offset these costs, Republicans have proposed repealing the Biden administration’s nursing home staffing rule and implementing reforms to the pharmacy benefit manager industry.
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