Primer on the 115 th Congress

Primer on the 115 th Congress

Prayer God of all nations, Father of the human family, we give you thanks for the freedom we exercise and the many blessings of democracy we enjoy in these United States of America. We ask for your protection and guidance for all who devote themselves to the common good, working for justice and peace at home and around the world. We lift up all our duly elected leaders and public servants, those who will serve us as president, as legislators and judges, those in the military and law enforcement. Heal us from our differences and unite us, O Lord, with a common purpose, dedication, and commitment to achieve liberty and justice in the years ahead for all people, and especially those who are most vulnerable in our midst. Amen

Logistics Please mute your phone lines or computer speakers. You may use the Chat feature for comments or questions during the presentation. The lines will be open/unmuted at the conclusion of the presentation for questions. All questions not addressed during the webinar will receive an email response.

Advocacy & Social Policy Priority: Integrate and leverage the expertise of the Catholic Charities ministries on relevant federal poverty concerns. What that means Mission driven response Real world experience input on policy Building unity within the Catholic Charities ministries to address shared problems

Makeup of 115 th Congress Photo by Carolyn Sun The Chronicle

Makeup of 115th Congress

Makeup of 115th Congress

Dates to Watch December 9th: Continuing Resolution expires National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 December 10th: Louisiana runoff to decide final Senate Seat January 3rd: 115 th Congress starts January 20th: Inauguration Day March 15th: Debt ceiling suspension expires September 30th: FY 17 Appropriations Deadline Children s Health Insurance Program authority expires National Flood Insurance Program expires Child and Family Services Improvement and Innovation Act expires

Lame Duck and First 100 Days

Lame Duck Must Pass: FY 16 Appropriations National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 Iran Sanctions Act reauthorizations Other Possibilities 21st Century Cures Act (cancer moonshot) Opioid funding Water Resources Development Act (Flint) Disaster Supplemental Energy-related tax extenders Criminal Justice reform Mental Health reform Others

Dec 9 th FY 16 Appropriations Four Scenarios 1. Full-year omnibus spending package 2. Full-year Continuing Resolution 3. Short-Term Continuing Resolution 4. Minibus appropriations Reasons Why it May happen 1. Clears the Deck while appropriating funds for urgent needs and special needs such as Opioid or Disaster assistance 2. Clears the Deck 3. Allows Republicans to control spending and immediately issues reconciliation instructions for overturning health care 4. Congress would bundle and pass those bills which are less contentious and provide a CR or Omnibus for the remainder of bills

CCUSA Appropriations Engagement Joint Letter with USCCB Nov 14, 2016 Oppose damaging structural changes to anti-poverty programs Spending cap relief must also include human need assistance Support additional Tenant and Project-based Rental Assistance Support funding for Emergency Food and Shelter Programs at $120 million and oppose move to HUD Support funding of Juvenile Justice programs

115 th Congress First 100 Days Three Priorities by President-Elect Trump Health Care Repeal/Replace Process: Likely use reconciliation process for most of repeal Substance: Discussions have begun on replace or maintain Jobs: Infrastructure Bill Possibility of infrastructure bill possibility paid-for through business tax reform Immigration: Border Security Prioritized removal of undocumented individuals who have committed crimes Wall, DACA, DAPA, Detention??????? REMINDER: Most non-executive authority actions will require 60 votes in the Senate except.

Reconciliation What is it? Budget reconciliation allows the Senate to get around the need for a 60-vote majority. How it works: 1. House and Senate agree on budget blueprint for spending and taxes for the coming fiscal year and typically the subsequent nine years. 2. That budget resolution would include reconciliation instructions directing specified House and Senate committees to produce legislation meeting numerical targets for changes in spending, taxes, or the debt limit 3. Legislative committees that receive the instructions would then write policies to achieve those changes. 4. Once the committees produced legislation, it would go to the House and Senate floors for consideration under expedited procedure and require only simple majority of House and Senate to pass. Limitations: Can only be used on entitlement spending i.e. Medicare, Medicaid, Federal retirements SNAP Can t be used on discretionary spending Can t be used for changes in Social Security s old age, survivors and disability insurance benefits programs. But can be used for other portions of Social Security

Other Issues for 115 th Congress Debt Limit Child Nutrition Reauthorization Child Health Insurance Reauthorization Mental Health Reform Criminal Justice Reform Tax Reform Dodd-Frank Overhaul Sequester Budget Caps Trade Immigration

New Administration

Regulatory Process New Administration Executive Options: Executive Orders Can be done immediately Regulations Options: Requires following Federal Rule Making process Moratorium Overturn Revisit/Revise Instruct not to enforce

Engagement How can we make Catholic Charities message stronger on Capitol Hill? Feedback from the Annual Survey Replying to special surveys Communicating amongst the network on state issues Stay connected with Social Policy team Take Action and share Action Alerts Sign-up for the Washington Weekly

2018 Elections Around the Corner 33 Senate seats open 25 Democrat and 8 Republican

Social Policy Team Contact Brian Corbin: Executive Vice President-Member Services Bcorbin@catholiccharitiesusa.org Lucreda Cobbs: Senior Director, Policy and Legislative Affairs Lcobbs@catholiccharitiesusa.org Ron Jackson: Senior Director, Government Affairs Rjackson@catholiccharitiesusa.org Lucas Swanepoel: Senior Director, Government Affairs Lswanepoel@catholiccharitiesusa.org Andrew Bostjancic: Policy and Research Analyst Abostjancic@catholiccharitiesusa.org