By: National Special Districts Coalition
The United States House of Representatives is not in session this week. The Chamber is scheduled to return next Monday. Meanwhile, the U.S. Senate gaveled in Monday afternoon and Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., has queued up several nomination votes this week. However, a border security and immigration package could take center stage.
Border security talks are integral to efforts to advance the Biden administration’s foreign aid package for Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan, and others. Republican lawmakers have insisted that the supplemental spending request be paired with border security reforms.
Congress Approves Short-Term Funding Patch
Last week, Congress approved and President Biden signed into law a stopgap funding bill. Passage of the measure was timely, as a partial government shutdown was set to begin on January 20. Similar to the previous Continuing Resolution (CR), lawmakers will stagger the new deadlines.
Under the agreement, four (of the 12) spending bills – those covering Agriculture, Energy and Water, Military Construction-Veterans Affairs, and Transportation-Housing and Urban Development – are extended until March 1. Funding for the remaining federal agencies – which were set to expire on February 2 – will run through March 8.
The stopgap package will provide appropriators more time to write spending bills that adhere to the topline budget deal that was agreed to last week. The CR also extends funding for community health centers, teaching health centers and the National Health Service Corps. In addition, the measure extends special diabetes programs and averts steep cuts to hospitals that have a high volume of Medicaid and uninsured patients.
Looking ahead, House and Senate appropriators will turn their attention to hashing out spending levels for the various federal departments, as well as individual programs, for the remainder of the current fiscal year.
House Panel Advances Outdoor Recreation Package
Last week, the House Natural Resources Committee advanced a bipartisan outdoor recreation package – the EXPLORE Act (H.R. 6492).
Among other things, H.R. 6492 aims to modernize visitor experiences, streamline the permitting process for small businesses relying on public land access, and improve accessibility for various groups including sportsmen and women, military service members, veterans, individuals with disabilities, and kids.
The bill also focuses on protecting rock climbing areas, creating new bike trails, restoring campgrounds, and modernizing infrastructure while supporting gateway communities by addressing housing shortages and outdated infrastructure.
This legislation has been a conversation in the past for the NSDC Park and Recreation Policy Group. Special districts providing infrastructure services in communities adjacent to U.S. National Park, U.S. Forest Service, and Bureau of Land Management lands may be interested in learning more.
A section-by-section summary of the legislation can be accessed here.
Upcoming Hearings of Interest
Senate Banking – On Thursday morning, the panel will hear local perspectives and challenges on the reauthorization of the National Flood Insurance Program. Additional information on the hearing can be found here.
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