FY 25

The current FY 25 Continuing Resolution (CR) extends funding through December 20, and Congress will need to pass another CR within the next two weeks to extend funding into next year and thus next Congress. A CR extending into March appears most likely, though one through the end of February has also been discussed. Enough conservative House members are expected to vote against the bill that Democrat votes should be needed, and the bill is likely to be taken up under suspension of the rules, which requires two-thirds support. Once an agreement is made on the scope of the CR, the bill is expected to move through the House before being finalized by the Senate the week of December 16th.

Congress is also considering President Biden’s $115 billion emergency disaster spending request (he added $16 billion to his original $99 billion request), plus other funding anomalies.

While Congress tends to run up until its deadlines, Speaker Johnson, who will need to be reelected Speaker in the new Congress, has said he would like to complete FY 25 spending in January. First, Congress will have to find agreement on a topline funding number.

Reconciliation

Republicans have discussed doing two reconciliation bills, which only require 51 votes for passage. The first including border, energy, and defense policies, and the second including tax policies. Incoming Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) pitched passing the first reconciliation bill within the incoming Trump Administration’s first 30 days, though a reconciliation strategy has not yet been determined.

WIOA Reauthorization

After reaching a bicameral, bipartisan agreement between House Education and the Workforce and Senate HELP Committee leaders, the bill has been undergoing a hotlining process to gauge support for expedited passage, as without objections the bill could be passed by unanimous consent. However, Sen. Bob Casey, who narrowly lost his reelection race last month, said yesterday that he would hold up the bill because it does not include language ending the subminimum wage for disabled workers, as does a separate bill he sponsors. The Committee leadership is attempting to work through Member concerns in order to move the bill before the session ends later this month. It’s still unclear whether the bill would be attached to another piece of must pass legislation, such as the FY 25 Continuing Resolution, or as a standalone bill.

HEA Reauthorization

The House may vote on a major higher education reform bill, the College Cost Reduction Act (CCRA) as early as Wednesday afternoon, though this date is still in flux. While the bill won’t be considered in the Senate, a House floor vote would be a victory for outgoing House Education & the Workforce Chair Virginia Foxx (R-NC), the bill’s sponsor. The CCRA advanced the House Education and the Workforce Committee in January of this year in a party-line vote.

2025 Congressional Calendar

Both chambers of Congress have released their calendars for next year. A combined congressional schedule is here.