Congress has less than a week to keep the government open as an Oct. 1 shutdown looms. (Punchbowl News, Sept. 24)
State of Play
House GOP plan: A continuing resolution (CR) through Nov. 21 that would also extend the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Senate Democrats blocked it. (Politico, Sept. 25)
Democratic plan: A shorter CR to Oct. 31 that adds priorities such as Affordable Care Act subsidies and reversing Medicaid cuts. Senate Republicans blocked it. (Punchbowl News, Sept. 23)
GOP leaders frame their plan as a clean extension to buy time to keep the government open while negotiations continue. Democrats say Republicans are ignoring urgent needs.
On Wednesday, President Trump canceled a planned meeting with Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), rejecting their push to include healthcare funding in a deal to avert a shutdown. (AP News, Sept. 23)
In a social media post, he said no meeting with Democratic leaders “could possibly be productive.”
Rep. Jeffries also scheduled a caucus call on Friday to discuss “the path forward,” and a follow-up meeting in Washington on Sept. 29, despite the House being out of session. (Roll Call, Sept. 24)
Government Funding & CRE
Without congressional action, the NFIP will lapse on Sept. 30. Another short-term extension would be its 34th in eight years.
The Real Estate Roundtable (RER) supports a sustainable, long-term NFIP reauthorization with appropriate reforms. A robust program is essential for residential markets, catastrophe insurance capacity, and the broader economy.
The CR would also let the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) use funds to prevent evictions in the Tenant-Based Rental Assistance program. (PoliticoPro, Sept. 17)
Senate Democratic Leaders say they won’t support any House-passed funding bill unless GOP leaders negotiate, while Republicans argue there’s nothing to discuss—casting next week’s vote on a “clean” CR as the only path forward. (The Hill, Sept. 25)