Key Dates
November 8, 2022 (Election Day): 32 days
November 14, 2022 (House & Senate Return for “Lame Duck” Session): 38 days
December 15, 2022 (Target Adjournment of 117th Congress): 67 days
December 16, 2022 (Continuing Resolution Expires): 68 days
With the continuing resolution (CR) signed into law, this was the first week with Congress out of session. Additionally, the campaign season is in the home stretch, though control of the House and Senate control remains murky. Your WSW team is using this time to begin planning for a new Congress for your organization, as well as tracking implementation of the major legislation that has resulted from this Congress.
Here’s what you might’ve missed as well as what to keep an eye out for on the horizon:
Another Lame Duck Item: Hurricane Relief. Following the devastation wrought by Hurricane Ian, it has become abundantly clear that Congress will need to provide relief to storm-struck areas. While a federal aid estimate is currently unknown, observers expect tens of billions of dollars in relief. Nearly every Republican in the Florida delegation signed onto a letter to Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Kay Granger (R-TX) urging for “clean” relief, in an effort to avoid potential policy riders. It is possible, however, that this relief aid will just be added to an FY23 spending bill – as a reminder, the CR expires December 16.
A Potential 2023 Complication: Raising the Debt Limit. While the exact date is uncertain, it is near-certain that Congress will need to raise the debt limit sometime in 2023. Axios released an interesting article last week outlining what that situation might look like, and reported that there are concerns that it could lead to a debt crisis similar to 2011.
Biden Pardons Marijuana Offenses, Calls for Review of Drug Scheduling. On Thursday, President Biden grants a pardon to all people convicted of simple marijuana possession under federal law. He also urged states to take similar actions, and asked the Attorney General and Secretary of HHS to review how marijuana is scheduled under federal law.
A Political Update. For a look at the “horse racing” in the race for the House and the Senate, we advise looking at the following articles from this week:
- FiveThirtyEight: “The Seats Republicans Could Flip To Win The House In 2022” – Full Article
- Cook Political Report: “Which Way Is the Wind Blowing?” – Full Article
- The Hill: “Five takeaways from the Kelly-Masters Debate in Arizona” – Full Article
- Politico: “Republicans gain ground in Senate races in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin” – Full Article
