New CR Buys More Time on Sweeping 2024 Funding Deal

Congress has successfully provided appropriators with additional time to finalize and pass all 12 spending bills for fiscal year (FY) 2024 after passing another two-tiered continuing resolution (CR) last week. Depending on the overall level of bipartisan cooperation between the two sides, key policymakers will also be pushing for the inclusion of several pending legislative efforts, including the Tax Relief for American Workers and Families Act, which passed the Ways and Means Committee on Friday with strong bipartisan support. Lawmakers are also pushing for a sweeping health care package that would re-up pandemic preparedness and opioid support programs, as well as address bipartisan priorities on Medicare physician pay, price transparency, telehealth, and more.

— THIS WEEK IN CONGRESS. The Senate will return for legislative business today to hold a procedural vote on the nomination of Christopher Koos to serve on the Amtrak Board of Directors. While the chamber continues to churn through nominations, a bipartisan group of senators will resume their efforts to produce a supplemental funding package that includes foreign aid funds along with border security policy changes. If a deal comes together, Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) could file votes as soon as this week. Meanwhile, the House will be out this week and is slated to return on Monday, January 29.