Advocacy Monthly - Summer 2024

Legislative Updates

The budget is back on the table, this time for a new fiscal year. The FY2024 budget, as many will remember, was subject to a chaotic and drawn-out battle which was not completely resolved until this past March. That budget is set to last until September. Once again, the ball has been passed into the House’s court, and it is the responsibility of Representatives to pass appropriations for the coming year. Congress returns from its August Recess on September 10th, meaning passage will become the front and center issue once again.

House Republicans are aiming to pass the FY2025 budget through the summer with the goal of finalizing the budget before the November election to avoid any intraparty divisions on controversial policy proposals as was seen in last year’s appropriations process. Conservative members have already voiced their concerns, hinting that they will vote against any spending bills that do not address enough of their policy priorities.

The House Appropriations Committee recently proposed funding limits with the overall totals coming in under the top-line agreement that was set during negotiations last year. In the Senate, party leaders from both sides have expressed a desire for higher allocations. The Senate may try to delay action on the budget until after the election in November when it is clear which parties will control Congress and the White House.

On June 5th, the Military Construction-Veterans Affairs bill (H.R. 8580) passed the House with a vote of 209-197, becoming the first of the 2025 appropriations bills to be approved by the lower chamber. Controversial provisions brought the vote to near party line, and the Biden Administration has already signaled that they would veto the bill if it reached the President’s desk in its current state. The Senate, with its Democratic majority, is expected to reject many of the provisions which were included by House Republicans. Four other appropriations bills have passed their respective committees of jurisdiction in the House and are awaiting a floor vote.

To follow along with the appropriations process, you can use the Congressional Research Service’s Appropriations Status Table: Appropriations Status Table (congress.gov)