With Senator Burr (R-NC) retiring, there is also potential for the omnibus spending bill to include at least some pieces of the PREVENT Pandemics Act, which Senator Burr authored with Senator Patty Murray (D-WA). As well, there is bipartisan support for new authorizing FDA regulations for in-vitro diagnostics and lab-developed tests and accelerated FDA approval program changes. (The 2022 Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA) included an extension of a subset of telehealth-related policies for 151 days past the end of the federally declared PHE). We also expect Congress to further extend telehealth flexibilities and waivers that allow for Medicare reimbursement beyond the end of the federally declared COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE). At the very least, we expect Congress will avert the significant Medicare physician fee schedule cuts set to take effect on January 1. While many of these provisions enjoy some degree of bipartisan support, their significant cost may result in some being left out or made smaller when passed. The passage of a clean FDA User Fee Reauthorization Act in September, which included the reauthorization of the Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA), left out a number of more controversial items that may make their way into a year-end omnibus package. However, with the top two Senate negotiators (Pat Leahy (D-VT) and Richard Shelby (R-AL)) retiring at the end of this year, we expect a spending deal will be reached before the next Congress is seated even if that means passing a short-term extension before the CR expires on December 16. Negotiators still have not agreed on topline spending levels, leaving little time to iron out differences on specific spending priorities before December 16. With pre-conferencing on a compromise bill well underway, Congress is expected to approve this legislation after the Thanksgiving break before it takes on government funding. With Republicans set to control the House and legislative agenda in 2023, Democrats want to complete work on a full omnibus appropriations package to fund the federal government for the balance of the fiscal year, which ends September 30, 2023.īoth parties have significant work to do to complete negotiations on the spending package, and some Senate Republicans and Democrats are growing concerned that time is running out to pass an omnibus spending bill before the end of the year. The full House passed its version of the NDAA in July, and the Senate Armed Services Committee approved a version of the bill the end of that month. The following is what we expect to be on the agenda for the balance of this Congress and an early look at some of the key policy issues going into 2023. Join the Crowell Government Affairs Group for a webinar discussion on December 14, at 1 PM ET about the lame duck and what to expect with the 118 th Congress. The narrow margins also set up a dynamic whereby President Biden and both parties in Congress will be motivated to find some common ground on legislation during the lame duck session and in the next two years. Heading into the new Congress in 2023, with the narrowest Senate majority and House leadership not yet decided, expect to see a move away from the Speaker-dominant House leadership model with small factions and individual members trying to exert influence over the agenda. In addition to these legislative priorities, the Senate will likely pass the annual tax extenders bill, try to fit in a few other priority bills that have waited all year or are time sensitive, and continue to process federal judicial nominations and agency appointments that need Senate confirmation. Many other issues are likely to be taken up in what is expected to be a very active end of the 117 th Congress. Topping the must-do list in this period referred to as the “lame duck” session is funding the government for the remainder of fiscal year 2023 before the current continuing resolution (CR) expires on December 16 and passing the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), the annual defense policy bill. With the midterm elections (mostly) behind us (Republicans won a narrow House of Representatives majority, and Democrats will retain their slim Senate majority), Congress will return to Washington next week to tackle a list of must-pass items before the conclusion of the 117th Congress.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |