The Conclusion of 2024
On December 20, 2024, the House and Senate passed a Continuing Resolution (CR) to extend government funding and avoid a government shutdown. The bill continues funding at FY24 levels through March 14, 2025. The CR included many measures, like $110 billion in additional disaster relief funding for states such as North Carolina, Georgia, and Florida, a year-long extension of the 2018 Farm Bill, and $10 billion in aid for agricultural producers. A large priority for the incoming Congress will be to pass the various appropriations bills for FY25 before this CR expires in March.
On January 3, 2025, the 119th Congress officially commenced with the swearing in of all the members of the House of Representatives and the newly elected Senators. In the House, the first order of business was to elect new leadership for the chamber. After a roll call vote, Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA) was re-elected to serve as the Speaker of the House. Additionally, Rep. Hakeem Jefferies (D-NY) was re-elected to serve as the House Minority Leader.
For continued legislative policy updates, please be sure to subscribe to the Office of Public Affairs’ newsletter here.