Lawmakers are continuing to inch closer to a government shutdown, with current appropriations set to expire on September 30. Both the House and Senate are in session this week, but are scheduled to recess next week for Rosh Hashanah, leaving only a few working days to pass an agreement. Appropriations Chairs, Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) and Representative Tom Cole (R-OK) are seeking a short-term CR until November or December, while the White House is advocating for a longer-term CR extending into early 2026.
Democratic lawmakers are seeking to include an extension of health insurance marketplace subsidies, which are due to expire and may lead to cost increases of 75% for some marketplace consumers. Any funding package, either a short-term extension or a longer-term deal, would need 60 votes in the Senate, meaning at least seven Democrats assuming all 53 Republicans vote in favor. Some Democrats have suggested they will not vote for a package to force a shutdown as leverage in negotiations.
Other notable activity in Congress was the introduction of the Geriatrics Workforce Improvement Act by Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Tim Kaine (D-VA). The bill provides $48.2 million annually for five years to reauthorize the Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Program (GWEP) and Geriatrics Academic Career Awards (GACA) before they expire at the end of the fiscal year. GWEP supports 42 grantees training healthcare workers and caregivers in geriatrics and GACA helps junior faculty develop geriatric education and clinical expertise.
Additionally, the “American Franchise Act” was introduced last week by Representatives Kevin Hern (R-OK) and Don Davis (D-NC) to codify a joint employer standard specifically for the franchise industry. The bill would amend the National Labor Relations Act and the Fair Labor Standards Act to clarify that “A franchisor may be considered a joint employer of the employees of a franchisee only if the franchisor possesses and exercises substantial direct and immediate control over one or more essential terms or conditions of the employees of the franchisee.”