Government Funding, COVID-19 Relief on Tap for Congress as Expiration Date Nears
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It must still be somewhat astonishing to parts of the public how important legislative items before Congress’ two chambers (the House and the Senate) are often scheduled for consideration near the end of the year.
Take for instance legislation that would ensure funding for the government. With the federal government’s funding authority set to expire Dec. 11, lawmakers are expected to take up its fiscal 2021 funding legislation as early as next week. The funding matter could have been handled by or prior to its Sept. 30 original deadline.
The funding legislation is of importance since it’s meant to avert a partial government shutdown by advancing operational force for agencies related to transportation, the environment, the health care system, law enforcement, housing, education, the military and the economy.
Mulero
Stakeholders, including transportation groups, are calling on Congress to advance its funding measure.
This month, the Senate Appropriations Committee unveiled its fiscal 2021 appropriations bills. For its transportation account, the Senate measure proposed providing the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s safety operations and programs account with $300.8 million. For the agency’s motor carrier safety grants, appropriators proposed $391.1 million.
The House Appropriations Committee approved its measures in the summer.
Besides voting on funding legislation, members of Congress may discover there are a variety of matters on their post-election lame-duck agenda. One such potential item is a new round of COVID-19 economic aid. House Democratic leaders and Senate Republican leaders agree on the need for another emergency aid measure. However, they disagree on topline figures.
Senate Appropriations Bill by Transport Topics on Scribd
“We need to continue the funding for the vaccine, the delivery of the vaccine,” Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) said on CNN’s “State of the Union” on Nov. 29, adding an emergency relief bill to “direct money to struggling families would be helpful.”
Blunt echoed Senate Majority Mitch McConnell’s sentiment. The Kentucky Republican had affirmed, “Our medical system should not be denied additional support, including for distributing the life-saving vaccines that appear to be on the horizon.”
Days earlier, Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) told reporters, “The pandemic and the economic recession will not end without our help.”
The Week Ahead (all times Eastern)
Dec. 2, 10 a.m.: The Senate Commerce Committee considers the nominations of Greg Autry to be chief financial officer of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Daniel Huff to be assistant secretary of the Department of Commerce and Nathan Simington to be a member of the Federal Communications Commission.
Freight Corridor
Next year’s agenda includes an Infrastructure Week.
Buzz
Former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel is said to be considered for the top job at the U.S. Department of Transportation.
Favorite Video
When it comes to the U.S. Senate, Georgia is on the mind.
Favorite Tweet
Top transportation policymakers want to protect the skies.
Lawmakers request new GAO studies on pandemic’s effect on the aviation industry https://t.co/Lfx0Kjb8yG — Victoria Benning (@VLBenning) November 30, 2020
Last Word
The American people, in states all across this country, and certainly in Wyoming, rejected this far left agenda.
Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) on Nov. 18
We publish weekly when Congress is in session. E-mail emulero@ttnews.com with tips. Follow us @eugenemulero and @transporttopics.
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