Congress looks to avoid default, House passes legislation to raise debt ceiling with reforms
On May 28, President Biden and Speaker McCarthy announced the Fiscal Responsibility Act, a final agreement to raise the U.S.’ debt ceiling through Jan. 1, 2025, along with reforms to curb spending and boost the economy. Congress hopes to pass this legislation by June 5 to avoid a potential default. The first hurdle was cleared June 1 when the House passed the bill with bipartisan support.
The legislation also cuts nondefense discretionary spending for the 2024 fiscal year. It would limit all discretionary spending to 1% growth in 2025; add work requirements for certain welfare programs; rescind some unobligated COVID-19 funds and IRS enforcement monies; and establish PAYGO (pay-as-you-go) requirements on executive branch spending, which should result in reforms that help curtail burdensome regulations in the future.
Additionally, the bill includes reforms to the National Environmental Policy Act, including project threshold, interagency coordination and review deadlines to prevent project delays; limits on what qualifies as a major federal action; and limits to prevent agencies from missing statutory deadlines. This section provides the first significant reforms to the National Environmental Policy Act since 1982.
House subcommittee approves H-2B returning worker exemption for fiscal year 2024
The House Homeland Security Subcommittee approved appropriations for fiscal year 2024, which includes a “returning worker exemption” for the H-2B seasonal guest worker program for 2024. This provision exempts from the annual statutory cap of 66,000 visas H-2B workers who return to the same employer where they were employed through the program during the previous three years. If enacted, the exemption greatly will increase visas allowed for 2024 and expand opportunities for NRCA members to address peak workforce needs via the H-2B program. This legislation now goes to the full Appropriations Committee, which is expected to consider the bill soon. NRCA commends Rep. Dave Joyce (R-Ohio) and Henry Cuellar (D-Texas) for their efforts to include the returning worker exemption in this legislation.
FEMA notice regarding the Community Disaster Resilience Zones Act and National Risk Index
On May 26, the Federal Emergency Management Agency issued a notice and request for information seeking “input on implementation of the Community Disaster Resilience Zones Act of 2022, including updates to the methodology and data used for the National Risk Index and any other hazard assessment products; potential improvements to FEMA’s provision of hazard data; the process used to designate community disaster resilience zones; financial and technical assistance for resilience or mitigation projects primarily benefitting community disaster resilience zones; and the community disaster resilience zone project application and certification process.” Comments are due by July 25.
