The following provides an overview of the budget reconciliation process as well as congressional Republicans’ plans to enact President-elect Trump’s tax and immigration agenda, either through a single reconciliation package or in two separate bills. Budget Reconciliation Process Overview Definition and Purpose: Reconciliation is a specialized legislative process designed to streamline passage of budget-related measures […]
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Becker’s Washington Weekly: Week of January 13
Biden’s Final Week This week marks President Joe Biden’s final week in office ahead of President-elect Trump’s January 20th inauguration. The outgoing President will spend the week giving various remarks in Washington, largely commemorating his Administration’s accomplishments: Monday: A foreign policy address at the State Department Tuesday: A conservation proclamation address Wednesday: An Oval Office […]
Read MoreBecker’s Washington Weekly: Week of January 6
119th Congress Kicks Off Happy New Year! Lawmakers return to Washington this week in the new 119th Congress following Rep. Mike Johnson’s (R-LA) reclaiming of the House Speaker gavel and swearing in of Members last Friday. Today, Congress met in joint session to certify the 2024 presidential election results, teeing up the January 20th inauguration […]
Read MoreBecker’s Washington Weekly: Week of December 16
The Final Countdown Congress returns for its final working week of the year before breaking for the holidays. In that time, lawmakers are set to pass national defense and water project authorization legislation, along with a short-term government funding bill lasting through March to avoid a shutdown this Friday. House lawmakers will also take up […]
Read MoreBecker’s Washington Weekly: Week of December 9
Congress Clears the Decks Over the weekend, House lawmakers released the text of the nearly $900 billion must-pass annual defense authorization bill ahead of an expected program lapse at year’s end. That, along with the biennial water project authorization bill, are set for floor votes this week. While Senators will meet this week to take […]
Read MoreLegal Update: Corporate Transparency Act Reporting Requirements Halted Nationwide
December 3, 2024 – The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas has issued a nationwide preliminary injunction, halting enforcement of the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) and its reporting requirements, citing constitutional concerns in Texas Top Cop Shop v. Garland et al. (Case No. 4:24-cv-00478). Background on the CTA The CTA, enacted as part of […]
Read MoreBecker’s Washington Weekly: Week of December 2
Congress Pivots to 2025 Lawmakers return to Washington this week for their last working period of the year before breaking for the Holidays and swearing in a new Congress in early January. Congress still needs to pass a government funding bill by December 20th to avoid a shutdown, in addition to passing key defense and […]
Read MoreBecker’s Washington Weekly: Week of November 18
Lame Duck Session Continues Lawmakers return to Washington this week for the final time this month before breaking for the Thanksgiving holiday. In the meantime, Senators will take up judicial nominations while House Members will move through a packed legislative agenda. House bills set for expedited procedures this week include veterans affairs operations, agency grant […]
Read MoreBecker’s Washington Weekly: Week of November 11
Congress Closes Out 2024 Congress returns to Washington this week following the 2024 election, where Republicans flipped the Senate and the White House and potentially held the House of Representatives depending on yet-to-be-called races. Lawmakers will begin their lame-duck session to pass a series of must-pass legislation and take up nominations of both the outgoing […]
Read MoreBecker’s Washington Weekly: Week of October 28
The advancement of AI is rapidly transforming multiple sectors, from healthcare to finance. However, with this progress comes an increasing demand for regulation to ensure the safe and ethical development of AI technologies. Lawmakers at both the federal and state levels are actively pursuing legislation to address the ethical challenges, risks, and potential of AI. […]
Read MoreBecker’s Washington Weekly: Week of October 14
The House and Senate are finalizing a compromise on the biennial Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) 2024 which aim to enhance the nation’s water infrastructure through various US Army Corps of Engineers projects. The House passed its WRDA – H.R. 8812 – on July 22, while the Senate passed S. 4367 on August 1. While […]
Read MoreBecker’s Washington Weekly: Week of September 23
Shutdown Showdown 2.0 Congress returns to Washington this week to take a second crack at passing a short-term government funding bill after falling short last week. Over the weekend, House Republicans released the text of a stopgap proposal extending government funding through December 20th after lawmakers failed to pass a previous version last week containing […]
Read MoreBecker’s Washington Weekly: Week of September 16
Congress’ September Slog Continues Congress is back in session for its second to last working week of the month before breaking for its October recess. While lawmakers continue to debate a government funding package ahead of the September 30th shutdown deadline, the House returns to a packed legislative agenda for the week including bills concerning […]
Read MoreBecker’s Washington Weekly: Week of September 9
Congress Returns to Washington Lawmakers from both Chambers return to D.C. this week after their month’s long August recess with just three weeks before a government shutdown deadline. On the eve of their return, House Republicans released the text of a stopgap measure that would fund the government through March 28th of next year, and […]
Read MoreBecker Spotlight: Alfonso Lopez Heads to DNC as Superdelegate/PLEO and Whip for Virginia Delegation
After months of anticipation and strategic preparation, the Democratic National Convention is set to unfold with renewed vigor and historic significance. Regardless of political affiliation, it’s undeniable that recent weeks in politics have been unprecedented. Becker’s own Alfonso Lopez will once again take a front-row seat in the democratic process, serving as a Superdelegate/PLEO) (Political […]
Read MoreAppellate Division Confirms That Age-Related Ownership Restrictions Are Unlawful
Many New Jersey age-restricted communities, particularly those in South Jersey, have provisions in their declarations or master deeds that restrict ownership of a home to persons 55 and older or in some cases to 62 years of age and older. Those governing document provisions also require that the home must be occupied by at least […]
Read MoreBecker’s Washington Weekly: Week of July 29
Congress Pivots to Summer The Senate returns to DC for one last working week before breaking for the month-long August break, following the House’s lead which cancelled this week’s votes to begin its recess today. The Senate will take up judicial nominees and will work to advance appropriations for healthcare, education, and labor to the […]
Read MoreBecker’s Washington Weekly: Week of July 22
Shakeup in Washington Lawmakers return to a seismically different Washington this week with President Joe Biden announcing that he will end his reelection campaign and endorse Vice President Kamala Harris to succeed him, just one month shy of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago where the party will select its nominee for president. Meanwhile, Congress […]
Read MoreBecker’s Washington Weekly: Week of June 24
House Lawmakers Close Out June The House is the only Chamber in town this week with the Senate out until after the Fourth of July recess week (which the House will also observe). President Joe Biden will spend the week at Camp David preparing for his Thursday night debate against former president Donald Trump. House […]
Read MoreBecker’s Washington Weekly: Week of June 17
Senate in Session Half of Congress is in session this week with only Senators returning to Washington to vote on nominees amid a mid-week recess commemorating Juneteenth. Senators will also participate in several committee hearings this week, including the following: The Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee will consider legislation reauthorizing the FCC’s spectrum auction […]
Read MoreBecker’s Washington Weekly: Week of June 10
Congress Back in Washington: This marks the last week that both the House and Senate will be in Washington at the same time for the month of June. Senators return to take up regular business, and House lawmakers have several votes scheduled in both regular order and expedited procedures. Moving through regular order is a […]
Read MoreBecker’s Washington Weekly: Week of June 3
Summer Session Begins Lawmakers return to D.C. this week following its Memorial Day recess to kick off its summer appropriations agenda ahead of the September 30th government shutdown deadline. It is expected to be a quick working week as several Members will be travelling to Normandy, France ahead of the 80th anniversary of D-Day this […]
Read MoreBecker’s Washington Weekly: Week of May 20
Memorial Day Push Congress returns to Washington this week to tackle its legislative agenda before breaking for its week-long Memorial Day recess. In the Senate, Members are slated to vote on judicial nominees. It’s also been reported that Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) is set to revive the stalled bipartisan immigration bill authored by Sens. […]
Read MoreGovernment Issues Scam Alert for Corporate Transparency Act
The U.S. Department of Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, also known as FinCEN, recently issued an alert warning individuals and businesses that scammers are using the Corporate Transparency Act to fraudulently solicit information from individuals and businesses who may be subject to reporting requirements under the Corporate Transparency Act. These fraudulent scams may include: Correspondence requesting […]
Read MoreBecker’s Washington Weekly: Week of May 13
The House Stays Open The House of Representatives is still open for business this week after Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) easily survived a motion to vacate brought by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) last week, thanks to a bipartisan vote to kill the measure. This week, Members return to Washington to pass a long-awaited bill […]
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