Month: December 2019

TRP’s Rosenberg Offers Commentary on Flexbility for Working Moms

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TRP’s Andy Rosenberg was recently quoted in an article for NBC News that highlights the different ways in which an employee can request flexibility from their employer in order to accommodate to modern working motherhood. As the article underscores the tactics that one may employ in manifesting a flexible and inclusive work schedule, Rosenberg noted that many employers who are willing to make flexibility accommodations are at a competitive advantage for talent, especially given the tight labor market. “This should be a win-win scenario.” said Rosenberg.

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Health Policy Report (12/23)

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The Week in Review

Lawmakers completed legislative business for the first session of the 116th Congress following action on significant policy priorities to close out 2019. Late Friday, President Donald Trump signed two massive spending measures for fiscal year (FY) 2020 into law after both the national security and domestic policy "minibus" packages cleared Congress with strong bipartisan support earlier last week. The deals include several wide-ranging policy provisions pertaining to Affordable Care Act (ACA) taxes, health extenders, terrorism risk insurance, and retirement reform. Negotiators also reached an agreement on several "tax extenders" that would renew certain tax provisions that expired at the beginning of 2018 and 2019, or that were set to expire on Jan. 1, 2020.

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POLITICO Influence Newsletter Highlights TRP Memo on 2020 Congressional Landscape

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In the Dec. 19 edition of its "Influence" newsletter, POLITICO highlighted TRP's take on why 2020 could be a productive year in Congress despite impeachment and the upcoming presidential election. “At the end of the day, however, most lawmakers recognize that they were sent to Washington to pass legislation and appetites for bipartisan, problem-solving wins are greater than they appear," TRP's memo states. "The top-level political narrative is only the tip of the iceberg and ignores the very real work to pass laws that goes on in even the most contentious political environment.”

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Next Week on the Hill: Lawmakers Adjourn for Holiday Recess

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Lawmakers have completed legislative business for the first session of the 116th Congress following action on significant policy items such as government funding, tax extenders, the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), and the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Prior to adjourning yesterday, Senators sent the fiscal year (FY) 2020 funding bills to President Donald Trump’s desk ahead of tonight’s government funding deadline, passing both the domestic policy minibus (71-23), as well as the national security measure (88-11) that includes appropriations bills for Defense, Commerce-Justice-Science, Financial Services and General Government, and Homeland Security. Earlier this morning, the president tweeted that he plans to sign the measures into law later today.

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In Roll Call, TRP’s Rosenberg Offers Perspective on Year-End Spending Deal

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In an article for Roll Call, TRP’s Andy Rosenberg offered his perspective on the key policy deals that were clinched in the recent end-of-year spending deal. While the article points to notable achievements in the health care and medical device industries, Rosenberg astutely pointed out that these “last-minute wins” were culminated as a result of tireless advocacy efforts on Capitol Hill. “It’s important to recognize that these big deals don’t just materialize out of ether,” said Rosenberg. “Their underlying merit has been lobbied for months or longer to get them in a position to pass.”

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In Roll Call, TRP’s Rosenstock Forecasts 2020 Landscape for Data Privacy, Fintech Policies

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TRP’s Jason Rosenstock was recently quoted in an article for Roll Call that outlines policy issues the fintech industry may have to contend with in 2020. In particular, Rosenstock pointed to existing and emerging data privacy measures, specifically centered around California’s data privacy law and the European Union’s enactment of the 2018 General Data Protection Regulation, that could spur legislative action on privacy next year. “You’re starting to really, truly see, at least in the states, a real patchwork emerging,” said Rosenstock. “I think it will only serve to continue to draw attention to the issue [in 2020].”

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Today on the Hill: Senate Votes on Spending Packages Expected Thursday

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Congress moved one step closer to avoiding a government shutdown yesterday after the House passed two large “minibus” spending packages. Both measures passed on a bipartisan basis, with the domestic policy package passing on 297-120 vote, while the national security minibus passed 280-138. Senators are expected to vote on the fiscal year (FY) 2020 spending bills tomorrow in order to place them on President Donald Trump's desk ahead of Friday's government funding deadline. While White House officials have indicated that he will sign the measures into law, President Trump's position on the measures has yet to be explicitly stated.

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Politico Influence: Lankler Heads To Thorn Run

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In the Dec. 9 edition of the POLITICO Influence newsletter — the leading government relations beat in Washington D.C. —  Thorn Run Partners was cited following addition of Greg Lankler as TRP’s 14th partner. After spending more than 20 years working in the U.S. House of Representatives and liaising with nearly every department of the federal government, Mr. Lankler has dedicated most of the last decade to helping large and small defense contractors, startups, Fortune 500 corporations, non-profits, and other stakeholders navigate the congressional appropriations process. “We are thrilled to add Greg Lankler to our team,” stated TRP co-founding partner Chris Lamond. “Greg’s reputation and expertise are second to none in the field of national security and intelligence, and under his leadership, we are building one of the top practices in the city.”

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Today on the Hill: House Readies Votes on Government Funding Packages

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House lawmakers will reconvene today eyeing floor votes on two massive “minibus” spending measures following an agreement from Appropriations “Cardinals” yesterday afternoon. In addition to funding the government through the remainder of fiscal year (FY) 2020, the deal includes several wide-ranging policy provisions pertaining to Affordable Care Act (ACA) taxes, terrorism risk insurance, retirement reform, and gun violence research. Negotiators also clinched deals on extensions for key expiring health programs such as: (1) the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) demonstration program; (2) the Money Follows the Person rebalancing demonstration; and (3) the Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI).

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This Week on the Hill: Lawmakers Close Out 2019 With Legislative Blitz

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Congress returns to action this week to close out 2019 with votes on key legislative priorities — notably centered around government funding for fiscal year (FY) 2020. With legislative text set to be released later this afternoon, House lawmakers could vote on a series of “minibus” packages to fund the government for the remainder of the fiscal year as early as Tuesday, with the Senate following suit shortly thereafter. While Senate Appropriations Chairman Richard Shelby (R-AL) expressed optimism about the prospects of support from both GOP leadership and President Donald Trump, it ultimately remains to be seen whether the President will sign off on the measures if his border-related priorities are not met. Congress has until midnight on Friday, Dec. 20 to fund the government and avert a shutdown. 

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