Policy Updates and Issue News November 2022

Midterm Elections

On November 8^th, voters across America took to the polls to vote in the 2022 midterm elections. Despite the expectations of pundits, after all the votes were counted Democrats were able to maintain their control of the Senate, and potentially gain a seat pending a runoff election in Georgia, while Republicans only narrowly gained control of the House. As a result, the next Congress will face serious challenges passing legislation without broad bipartisan support. In the House, Republicans have signaled an interest in increasing oversight of the executive branch and certain members have expressed an interest in holding up must-pass legislation such as government funding, increases in the debt ceiling, and the National Defense Authorization Act unless certain concessions are made. Meanwhile, Senate Democrats are likely to continue confirming President Biden’s executive and judicial branch nominees.

Congressional Leadership Changes

In both the House and Senate, leaders in both parties faced serious challenges following the 2022 midterm elections. In the House, Republican Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) was forced to make significant concessions to the more conservative wing of the party including decreasing the power of leadership and increasing the influence of individual members. Currently, McCarthy has secured the votes to remain leader of the House Republican Conference however it remains to be seen if he will be able to secure the required 218 votes to become Speaker of the House when the next Congress is seated in January next year. Republican Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) also faced a challenge to his leadership in the Senate from Senator Rick Scott (R-FL), however he was able to maintain his position without making concessions.

Finally, after more than two decades leading House Democrats, Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) announced that she would not seek a leadership position in the next Congress. Democratic Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) and Democratic Whip Jim Clyburn (D-SC) also signaled that they will no longer hold their current positions in the next Congress. The most likely successors for each of these long-time leaders are Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), Rep. Katherine Clark (D-MA), and Pete Aguilar (D-CA), respectively. This represents a generational shift in House Democratic leadership as Pelosi, Hoyer, and Clyburn had led the caucus for the majority of this century.

Lame Duck Session Begins

With control of the House of Representatives switching hands in the next Congress, Democrats are rushing to pass legislation on a variety of priorities before they lose total control of legislation. These efforts began quickly as the Senate took a bipartisan vote to pass the Respect for Marriage Act, a bill which codify many of the protections created for gay marriage which emerged from the Supreme Court decision Obergefell v. Hodges. Other headline priorities for the lame duck period include passing government funding, the National Defense Authorization Act, raising the debt ceiling, continuing aid funding to Ukraine, elections reforms, a ban on congressional stock trading, and executive and judicial branch confirmations. Of interest to the National Grange, legislation on issues such as concentration in cattle markets, railroad shipping troubles, voluntary carbon credits in agriculture, expanded coverage for early cancer detection through Medicare, and more.

New Antibiotics Needed

The National Grange joined patient groups and the medical community to urge Congress to pass the PASTEUR Act in an end of year legislative package.  Under PASTEUR, the federal government would enter into contracts with innovators to develop a reliable supply of novel antimicrobials to counter antibiotic resistance. The government would only pay for development of successful FDA approved treatments to combat super bugs.  For several years, the medical community has been concerned with the growing crisis of antibiotic resistance.  New antibiotics are urgently needed to counter resistance.

Extend Telehealth Benefits

A popular provision in the Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security Act expires at the end of this year.  It allows employers and health plans to offer telehealth services pre-deductible.  The National Grange, employers, patient advocates, health care companies and consumer groups are asking Congress to extend this benefit in a year-end legislative package.  An impressive total of 358 groups have joined this effort.

National Rural Health Day

The National Grange celebrated National Rural Heath Day November 17 at its annual convention in Sparks, Nevada.  Events included interviews with NBC and Fox News, and a presentation by Jeff Winton, founder and CEO of Rural Minds on rural suicide prevention and rural mental health awareness.  The Biden administration reaffirmed its commitment to helping those in rural, Tribal and geographically isolated regions get access to high-quality, equitable medical care.