Congress Enters Lame-Duck Session
Washington Update
Lame Duck
On Tuesday, November 12, Congress returned to Washington to address an extensive agenda during the lame-duck session, and how much gets done will likely depend on Republicans, who are coming off significant Election Day victories. Not only have they won the Presidency and Senate, but the GOP is expected to also retain their House majority so they are likely to postpone some of Congress’s toughest issues — like government spending, energy permits, and the farm bill — until the new year. At that point, a Republican trifecta will have greater influence over funding levels and policy decisions. Bipartisan efforts, such as passing disaster aid, authorizing water infrastructure projects, and finalizing the annual defense policy bill, are expected to be completed before Christmas.
The leading Democrats and Republicans on the House and Senate spending committees have voiced their intent to pass all full-year spending bills by year’s end. However, significant differences between the House and Senate versions — along with a roughly $90 billion gap in their overall funding proposals — will make it challenging to reach an agreement within the next five weeks. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (LA) has been insistent they will not pass an omnibus package and have called for the House to pass bills through “regular order,” but given the limited time that is unlikely and, if an omnibus is off the table, the next alternative is a second short-term funding extension. A continuing resolution (CR) seems increasingly likely. On Wednesday, November 13, lame-duck session proceedings will begin with Republican leadership elections in both the House and Senate. House Democrats are set to hold their leadership elections on November 19, while Senate Democrats are expected to follow in December. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (NY) is expected to pursue an agenda aligned with President Joe Biden’s lame-duck priorities: securing government funding, approving additional disaster aid, passing the National Defense Authorization Act, and advancing more judicial nominees for confirmation.
Trump Cabinet
With President-Elect Donald Trump set to return to the White House for a second term, speculation about his cabinet has already begun. Shortly after his victory was secured, Trump named his chief of staff, appointing Susie Wiles — the first woman in history to hold the title. Attention now turns to other cabinet spots, especially higher-profile positions like attorney general and treasury secretary. The Trump Administration will seek to reverse President Biden’s numerous labor regulations, especially those that increased the power of labor unions, so a more business-minded candidate will most likely be nominated to fill the top position at the Department of Labor (DOL). Two names that have already been floated are Patrick Pizzella and George “Bryan” Slater. Pizzella served as deputy Labor Secretary through the end of the Trump administration in January 2021 and led DOL in an acting capacity in between Alexander Acosta’s resignation and Eugene Scalia’s confirmation. Pizzella, well-known to business groups and conservatives and disliked by unions, was elected Mayor of Pinehurst, North Carolina in 2021. Slater currently serves as Secretary of Labor for Virginia under Governor Glenn Youngkin and served prior as Assistant Secretary for Administration and Management at DOL as well as Assistant Secretary of Administration at the Department of Transportation under President Trump. He also served as the White House Liaison at the U.S. Department of Labor under President George W. Bush.
H-2A Visas
On Thursday, November 7, House Committee on Education and the Workforce Chair Virginia Foxx (NC) and House Committee on Agriculture Chair Glenn “GT” Thompson sent a letter to U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) Comptroller General Gene L. Dodaro requesting an investigation into the effectiveness of the H-2A temporary farmworker visa program, particularly in light of recent changes implemented by the Biden administration. The letter specifically references the Labor Department’s 2023 overhaul of the adverse effect wage rate (AEWR) calculation, which has resulted in higher wages for workers and increased costs for employers.
Click here to read the full letter.
National Apprenticeship Week
The 10th anniversary of National Apprenticeship Week (NAW) is coming up, November 17-23, and this year’s theme is “National Apprenticeship Week 2024: Celebrating 10 Years of Engagement, Expansion, and Innovation.” This theme reflects the transformative power of Registered Apprenticeship and its ability to bring together key national, regional, state, and local stakeholders across the country to meet critical workforce needs and give career seekers a jumpstart to their career. Since NAW’s inception in 2015, Registered Apprenticeship has gained increased recognition as a tool to create the highly skilled workforce necessary to modernize our country’s infrastructure, build clean energy technologies, strengthen our cybersecurity defense ecosystem, and build a stronger care economy, while also creating essential on-ramps for career seekers to enter into robust career pathways. NAW is a nationwide celebration where employers, industry representatives, labor organizations, community-based organizations, workforce partners, educational institutions, and federal, state, and local government agencies host events to showcase the successes and value of Registered Apprenticeship for strengthening our economy by developing a highly skilled workforce to meet industry needs; creating pathways for career seekers to catapult into good jobs, and advancing racial and gender equity. During NAW 2024, the U.S. Department of Labor will highlight the following key themes:
Monday, November 18: Youth and Young Adult Apprenticeship Day
Tuesday, November 19: Registered Apprenticeship in New and Emerging Industries and Around the Globe
Wednesday, November 20: Expanding Registered Apprenticeship to Underserved Populations
Thursday, November 21: Women in Apprenticeship
Friday, November 22: Federal Apprenticeship and Veterans in Apprenticeship
Click here for more information and resources on how you can get involved in NAW.
Initial Jobless Claims
In the week ending November 2, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 221,000, an increase of 3,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 2,000 from 216,000 to 218,000. The 4-week moving average was 227,250, a decrease of 9,750 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 500 from 236,500 to 237,000. The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 1.2 percent for the week ending October 26, unchanged from the previous week's unrevised rate.
Click here to access the report.
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