Each week while Congress is in session, our Policy team delivers a key update to highlight a topical benefits, health, or retirement news item from the Hill, such as a newly introduced bill, a summary of a committee hearing,...more
Final Week Before Easter Recess - Focus this week on Capitol Hill will remain on reconciliation, as Republicans aim to pass the unified budget resolution in the House before leaving on Thursday for the two-week Easter...more
The Senate approved H.Con.Res.14 in the early morning hours of Saturday, April 5, concluding a vote-a-rama that began the night before and lasted over 5 hours. The final vote was 51-48, with Sens. Rand Paul (R-KY) and Susan...more
On Thursday, April 3, the Senate voted 52-48 on the motion to proceed with debate on H.Con.Res.14, the Senate’s new fiscal year (FY) 2025 budget resolution, triggering a statutorily required 20 hours of debate. Both the House...more
Reconciliation Watch - Reports indicate that the Senate will move as soon as Wednesday to begin advancing a unified budget plan. The Senate hopes to be able to advance the budget resolution by having the two chambers...more
As the end of the 2025 Legislative Session draws near, those who still harbor hope for the legislative process look ahead to next year — with study committees. Everyone’s favorite way to see lawmakers and lobbyists in...more
Below is this week’s congressional update by BakerHostetler’s Federal Policy team. We’ll continue to post in weeks when both chambers of Congress are in session....more
Unusually heavy traffic that stalled commutes to the Georgia State Capitol for many on Thursday morning may prove to be symbolic of the waning days of the 2025 Legislative Session. With many bills and resolutions still...more
March 27, 2025- The U.S. Senate passed a Congressional Review Act resolution to overturn the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s final rule imposing price controls on overdraft services offered by banks and credit...more
In November 2023, we pondered whether 2024 might be “the year” for medical marijuana legalization in North Carolina. Well, it wasn’t. Why, you ask? How can a state whose population has expressed overwhelming bipartisan...more
On March 18, 2025, President Donald Trump removed the two remaining Democrats serving on the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Rebecca Slaughter and Alvaro Bedoya....more
Blood rolled in the streets at the Georgia State Capitol on Thursday — the LifeSouth Bloodmobile, to be exact. While some lawmakers and lobbyists chose to voluntarily give the gift of life, for others, it was a painful...more
Following a key hearing in February, Senate Banking Committee Chairman Tim Scott (R-SC) is seeking to protect financial freedom with the introduction of the Financial Integrity and Regulation Management (FIRM) Act. The...more
Spending conversations continue to dominate Congress. House Republicans are prepared to release text in the coming days for a continuing resolution (CR) that would fund the government until Sept. 30, 2025. Additionally, the...more
Jonathan McKernan, President Trump’s nominee to head the CFPB, pledged that the agency would “implement and enforce the federal consumer financial laws and perform each of its other statutorily assigned functions.”...more
The Senate approved S.Con.Res.7 in the early morning hours of Friday, Feb. 21, concluding a vote-a-rama that began the night before and lasted over 10 hours. The final vote was 52-48, with Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) joining...more
On Wednesday Feb. 12, the Senate Budget Committee advanced a fiscal year (FY) 2025 budget resolution by a vote of 11-10. The Senate voted to move forward with debate on the resolution on Tuesday, Feb. 18, triggering a...more
After the Presidents Day long weekend, the House is out of session this week. The Senate is in session, with a continued focus on nominations and potential floor action on the budget resolution that the Senate Budget...more
The Senate is in session this week, but the House is in recess. It is anticipated that the Senate may begin floor work on its budget resolution this week, culminating in a “vote-a-rama,” which is a series of votes on...more
Republicans in Congress this week continue to discuss ways to move forward President Trump’s legislative agenda through budget reconciliation. The House and Senate Budget committees passed budget resolutions that completely...more
Below is Alston & Bird’s Health Care Week in Review, which provides a synopsis of the latest news in health care regulations, notices, and guidance; federal legislation and congressional committee action; reports, studies,...more
Key Nominations Move Forward. The Senate Finance Committee advanced Robert F. Kennedy (RFK) Jr.’s nomination to lead the US Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) in a 14 – 13 vote along party lines. The nomination now...more
A crucial part of Trump’s agenda will be those who execute it. We recap recent developments specific to leadership nominations and confirmations below....more
The Senate Finance Committee is set to vote on the confirmation of Robert F. Kennedy (RFK) Jr., President Trump’s nominee for Secretary of the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), on Tuesday morning. All eyes are...more