November 2023 Monthly Recap
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Yet again, a government shutdown has been narrowly avoided only by pushing funding deadlines to the new year. Thanksgiving came at the right time for Congress, with Members having been on edge after 10 straight weeks in session. As we head into the New Year, focus has shifted from funding to attempts to broker a deal that combines Israel aid, Ukraine aid, and Border security into one digestible package for both parties.
Another interesting development, Rep. George Santos’ ethics committee report was released before Thanksgiving prompting Congress to consider a third expulsion vote. On December 1, 2023, Santos became the only Member of Congress expelled without a criminal conviction and the first Member to be expelled since 2002. Only five members have been expelled, all of which were Democrats, making Santos the first Republican in history to be expelled from the House. Santos’ expulsion has made the Republican majority even smaller as the seat will be vacant leading into the 2024 elections and likely return to Democratic control.
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Legislative Action |
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Government Funding Solved… For Now
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On November 14, 2023, the House passed a laddered Continuing Resolution (CR) with the Senate following suit the next day. 12 funding bills will still need to be completed, four with a January 19th deadline and the rest expiring on February 2nd. Speaker Johnson is hoping to pass each bill on its own whereas the Senate is attempting to package the bills and pass multiple at once. View how both chambers are approaching funding here.
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Status of funding bills
- Agriculture – 1/19 deadline
- House version: Passed Committee- Stalled on Floor
- Senate version: Passed – packaged with other legislation
- Energy-Water – 1/19 deadline
- House version: Passed*
- Senate version: Passed Committee
- Military Constriction-VA – 1/19 deadline
- House version: Passed
- Senate version: Passed* – packaged with other legislation
- Transportation-HUD – 1/19 deadline
- House version: Passed Committee – Stalled
- Senate version: Passed – packaged with other legislation
- Commerce-Justice-Science – 2/2 deadline
- House version: Passed Committee – Stalled on Floor
- Senate version: Passed Committee
- Defense – 2/2 deadline
- House version: Passed*
- Senate version: Passed Committee
- Financial Services – 2/2 deadline
- House version: Passed Committee – Stalled on Floor
- Senate version: Passed Committee
- Homeland Security – 2/2 deadline
- House version: Passed
- Senate version: Passed Committee
- Interior-Environment – 2/2 deadline
- House version: Passed
- Senate version: Passed Committee
- Labor-HHS-Education – 2/2 deadline
- House version: Passed Committee – Stalled on Floor
- Senate version: Passed Committee
- Legislative Branch – 2/2 deadline
- House version: Passed
- Senate version: Passed Committee
- State-Foreign Operations – 2/2 deadline
- House version: Passed
- Senate version: Passed Committee
*NECA-related provisions included
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Regulatory Action |
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White House Convenes New Supply Chain Resilience Council
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The White House, with newly-created White House Supply Chain Disruptions Task Force, announced 30 new actions the Federal Government will be taking to help mitigate past, present, and future supply chain challenges. A few key initiatives are:
- Using Defense Production Act to make more medicines and drugs manufactured in the United States
- A new Supply Chain Center to help with assessment tools on logistical challenges to supply chains
- DOE announced $275 million in grant selections for its Advanced Energy Manufacturing and Recycling Grant Program. This will assist in the production of critical materials, components for grid-scale batteries, EV, on-shore wind turbines, and other energy efficiency/conservation technologies.
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Treasury Department issues new Proposed Rule to Implement Inflation Reduction Act Energy Tax Credits
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Under the proposed rule, the IRS is expanding the definitions of energy property to include:
- Electrochromic glass and fiber-optic solar energy
- Solar energy properties
- Combined heat and power systems
- Geothermal heat pumps and energy properties
- Full cells
- Microturbine
- Biogas
- Small wind energy projects
- Waste energy projects
- Energy storage technologies
- Microgrid controllers
Additionally, the proposed rule revised that five-year recapture period regarding the prevailing wage and apprenticeship requirements within IRA. The rule will allow recapture if violations occur in each year starting at 100% and subsequently decreased by 20% each year.
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Treasury publishes final rule on ‘Beneficial Ownership’
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Under FinCEN’s September 30, 2022 Reporting Rule, entities created or registered on or after the rule’s effective date of January 1, 2024 were originally required to file initial reports with FinCEN within 30 days of notice of their creation or registration. This new amendment extends that filing deadline from 30 days to 90 days for entities created or registered on or after January 1, 2024 and before January 1, 2025 “to give those entities additional time to understand the new reporting obligation and collect the necessary information to complete their filings.”
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Pending Legislation |
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Upcoming Government Affairs Events |
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NEW! 2024 Legislative Conference – May 6-9 at the Salamander in Washington, DC
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- The 2024 Legislative Conference dates have been announced! We are excited to welcome you back to DC for NECA’s annual fly-in in May of 2024. Registration will open on February 5th for all membership. We hope to see you there!
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Political Leadership Council (PLC) Retreat – November 8-10 at the JW Marriott in Marco Island, FL
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- The 2024 PLC Retreat location and dates have been announced! We are excited to host you all next year in Florida the weekend following the 2024 elections. Reach out to the team if you are interested in learning more about the PLC!
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