December 2020 - thornrun

Health Policy Report (12/14)

Posted on December 14, 2020August 8, 2023 by Thornrun

Capitol Hill Update

Congress enters the week with some breathing room to avoid a government shutdown and fund the government for fiscal year (FY) 2021. President Donald Trump signed a week-long continuing resolution into law last Friday, punting the funding deadline — as well as numerous expiring health programs — to December 18 at midnight. Appropriations will need to move past several lingering policy disagreements that have bogged down progress thus far, including veterans’ health care costs, COVID-19 relief, border wall funding, criminal justice issues, and environmental policy riders. If officials are unable to reach an agreement by week’s end, it’s possible that lawmakers could pass another short-term funding measure that keeps the lights on until early next year.

Financial Services Report (12/14)

Posted on December 14, 2020August 8, 2023 by Thornrun

As of Sunday evening, it was reported that House and Senate negotiators were closing in on a COVID relief deal – albeit one that spun the two most contentious issues of liability protections and funding for state and local governments into a separate bill. Whether or how this all comes together as Congress races to pass a longer year-end spending bill before the end of the week remains to be seen. Please note, that even if the House and Senate pass these measures before funding runs out on Friday, they are likely to stay in session until January 2nd or 3rd in order to prevent a pocket veto situation on the NDAA as well as these measures.

TRP COVID-19 Policy Memos

Posted on December 11, 2020August 8, 2023 by Thornrun

TRP has published a series of memos outlining the numerous policy changes and initiatives undertaken by Congress to address the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. These memos are designed to help your organization track and better understand the steps lawmakers have taken to address existing and emerging issues from the outbreak. As always, please feel free to follow up with the TRP team with any specific questions or feedback.

Financial Services Report (12/7)

Posted on December 7, 2020August 8, 2023 by Thornrun

While the House and Senate were in session last week, the lame duck is now going to begin in earnest. First up this week will be the NDAA, which the House will take up on Tuesday. With the President continuing to threaten to veto the bill over non-defense related technology issues, the first threshold will be whether the measure passes House with a veto proof margin.

Health Policy Report (12/7)

Posted on December 7, 2020August 8, 2023 by Thornrun

Capitol Hill Update

Congress returns to action today as lawmakers look to clear the decks on its remaining “lame duck” priorities. With government funding set to lapse at the end of the week, appropriations leaders are expected to release a short-term continuing resolution (CR) this week that would avert a shutdown on Friday and provide more time to reach a compromise. The talks have been bogged down over several lingering policy disagreements, including veterans’ health care costs, border wall funding, criminal justice issues, and environmental policy riders.