This Week In Congress

The House and Senate are back in session following the holiday recess.

Appropriations:

On Sunday, House and Senate negotiators reached a deal on the topline FY’24 funding levels for defense and nondefense spending limits, though allocations for each bill are still being worked out. The deal will allow for the total level of spending laid out in last year’s debt limit agreement, which included a number of side deals. A large coalition letter, which NCSD signed, rejecting cuts to non-defense discretionary funding in the FY’2024 deal was sent to the hill early this week.

While progress has been made in reaching a topline agreement, the first deadline for the current continuing resolution is fast approaching on January 19th and the process of finalizing the spending bills themselves will take longer. Speaker Johnson has been quoted stating that while passing another continuing resolution is not ideal, he is open to the possibility of it. Senate Minority Leader, Mitch McConnell has been quoted as saying that “obviously” another CR would be necessary.