I hope you had a restful, happy and healthy holiday, and start to the new year.
After my final communication in December, the 117th Congress passed a year-end funding bill backed by nearly every Democrat and several Republicans. It includes provisions to help educators, students and families, as well as the NEA-supported Pregnant Workers Fairness Act and Electoral Count Act.
A driving force for passing this bill—instead of punting it into 2023—was the widespread belief that the GOP’s slim House majority would lead to gridlock in the new Congress. Members of both parties, especially senators, feared that the House would be unable to pass any funding bill, leading to a government shutdown like the one early in 2019.
The debacle of the GOP’s attempts to elect a Speaker of the House last week shows those fears are well founded.
Days and days of gridlock in simply its first action, along with countless concessions to the most extreme members of the caucus make it clear that the House will struggle to advance legislation on its own, let alone negotiate with the Senate and White House. Widespread concern remains about must-pass bills—for example, to fund the government and raise the debt ceiling to pay existing debts and avoid self-inflicted economic catastrophe.
In the near term, the speaker standoff means a slow start to the 118th Congress with Committee leadership and membership unresolved and bills not being introduced.
In contrast, after a normal beginning and swearing-in of new senators last week, the Senate is in organizing mode and reconvenes on January 23.
In solidarity,
Marc Egan
Government Relations Director
National Education Association
