Congress and the Administration continue to struggle to reach agreement on federal funding levels for 2024, which started October 1, 2023. Congress has already missed a couple sets of self-imposed deadlines to complete funding legislation for FY24 and is quickly approaching the next deadline for a potential government shutdown.
Most Congressional observers believe that Congress will avoid a federal shutdown. Congress appears to be making progress on funding decisions for various appropriations bills. The continued hold up surrounds high profile issues - like funding for Ukraine and Israel - and lower profile appropriations riders that would block the Biden White House from taking administrative action on a number of environmental, health, labor and education policies. House Republican leaders are reportedly attempting to insert a number of policy riders that would block or delay EPA’s efforts to respond to air pollution and climate change.
The ATS will continue to urge Congress and the Administration to complete funding for FY24 programs and to provide increased funding for key research, health and environmental programs. The ATS will also urge Congress and the Administration to reject appropriations riders that block federal agencies from taking appropriate actions to protect public health and the environment.