Monday, January 22nd, 2024
Stopgap Spending: Congress passed H.R.2872, which will extend funding through March 1 for some federal agencies and programs, and through March 8 for most others. The first deadline would cover agencies under four appropriations bills—Agriculture-FDA, Energy and Water, Military Construction-VA, and Transportation-HUD. Funding for the eight remaining spending bills would be extended through March 8. The continuing resolution (CR) would generally extend fiscal 2023 funding levels for agencies and programs that are otherwise slated to shut down on Jan. 20 and Feb. 3 under the current stopgap measure. The CR would give lawmakers more time to negotiate agency funding levels. Congressional leaders haven’t yet reached a deal on allocations for each of the 12 annual funding bills. The bill will head to President Biden who has said he will sign it.
Denouncing Biden Border Policies: The House passed H.Res.957 (225-187), which denounces the Biden administration's open-borders policies, condemning the national security and public safety crisis along the southwest border, and urges President Biden to end his administration's open-borders policies.
Pregnant Students Rights: The House passed H.R.6914(212-207), which would require higher education institutions to provide, as a condition of receiving federal student aid, relevant information to pregnant students to carry a baby to term. Schools eligible for student aid funding under Title IV the Higher Education Act, such as Pell Grants, would have to provide prospective and enrolled students information on rights and resources for pregnant students to carry a baby to term. The requirement would also apply for part-time students.
The information would have to include:
A list of current resources on campus and in the community, including accommodations, to help pregnant students carry the baby to term and care for the baby after birth.
Content on how to file a complaint with the Education Department and the institution if a student believes their Title IX rights were violated due to their decision to carry a baby to term.
Supporting Pregnant and Parenting Women and Families: The House passed H.R.6918 (214-208), which would block a provision in a proposed Biden administration rule that would prevent anti-abortion pregnancy centers from receiving federal funds. The Biden administration on Oct. 2 proposed a rule to overhaul grant requirements under the Temporary
Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. The change in question would require states to show that grantees are accomplishing one of the four main purposes of the program, most notably preventing “out-of-wedlock pregnancies.” The bill would block the Health and Human Services Department from finalizing, implementing or enforcing the proposed rule change with respect to pregnancy centers, and block any substantially similar rule.
