The Remaining 2024 Congressional Agenda

When the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate return Sept. 9 for the final "sprint" of the legislative session, Congress will have only three weeks in September, break for elections, and then return for a five-week "lame-duck" session before concluding for the year. This GT Alert provides a snapshot of potential legislative items Congress will consider.

September 'Must Pass' Bills

• Continuing Resolution. Funding for federal discretionary programs, which make up roughly one-third of the federal budget, expires Sept. 30. Congress divides discretionary spending into 12 appropriations bills, which must be passed annually. However, since only five of those bills have passed the House and none have yet passed the Senate, Congress will need to pass a short-term funding extension (a continuing resolution, or CR) to buy additional time. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) has proposed a CR with funding through March 31, 2025, and will add the "SAVE Act," which would