COVID-19 and Congressional and Political Calendars
As the COVID-19 outbreak and related restrictions continue, it now seems inevitable the congressional calendar, which was already compounded to accommodate for 2020 elections, will get tighter. Responding to the public health crisis and addressing the immediate economic impacts of the pandemic remain congressional priorities. However, policymakers are also looking at longer-term recovery options, as well as improving U.S. preparedness to respond to future public health threats. Of course, prior to the spread of the virus in the U.S., Congress was already confronting a number of looming policy expirations this year.
Next Steps on COVID-19 Relief Packages
The Trump Administration and Democrats and Republicans in Congress continue to sketch out priorities for “COVID 4.0” and “COVID 5.0” packages. These additional stimulus bills might include things like hazard pay and enhanced worker protections, tax reforms to bolster the economy, measures to promote healthcare affordability, and infrastructure legislation to jumpstart job creation. This is by no means an exhaustive list and the timeline for action on these measures remains unclear.
Other Expiring Provisions and Must-Pass Legislation
It will be a challenge for Congress to negotiate additional COVID-19 response measures while also tackling the slew of other provisions due to expire. This means we could potentially see a single vehicle, such as a continuing resolution (CR), carrying other measures that need to be increased, expanded, extended, or reauthorized.
At the start of the second session of the 116th Congress, House and Senate leadership released calendars with significant recess periods to accommodate for political conventions and campaigning. It is now likely we could see Congress working through some of these district work periods, potentially including the August recess, to make up for lost time.
Although the schedule remains fluid and is largely dependent upon the virus, noted below are target action dates and key deadlines that have shifted due to COVID-19 or are otherwise receiving increased attention given their relevance to the crisis. Additional scheduling changes to the legislative and political timelines below are possible:
Key Legislative Dates Impacted by COVID-19
Already Expired: Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) (Expired February 15)
Already Expired: Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) reauthorization (Expired March 15)
May 1: House Armed Services Target Date to Complete Draft Fiscal Year 2021 (FY21) National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) (Markup Initially Scheduled for April 30)
May 4: Senate Scheduled to Return (Initially Scheduled for April 20)
May 31: Senate Armed Services Target Date to Complete Draft FY21 NDAA (Markup Initially Scheduled for Week of May 18)
June: Tuesday and Thursday Subcommittee and Full Committee FY21 Appropriations Markups Anticipated in the House and Senate (Initially Scheduled for May)
June 30: CARES Act Paycheck Protection Program for Small Businesses Expires
July 31: CARES Act Additional $600 Weekly Pandemic Unemployment Benefit Expires
September 30: FY20 Appropriations Expire
September 30: FY20 NDAA Expires
September 30: Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act Expires
September 30: National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) Expires
September 30: National Institutes of Health (NIH) Authorization Expires
September 30: Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) Expires
September 30: Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Expires
September 30: Child Care and Development Block Grants Expire
October 1: FY21 Begins
November 30: Federal Health Programs (Listed Below) Expire (Extended from May 22 by the CARES Act)
Community and Public Health Programs Extension Act
National Health Service Corps (NHSC)
Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education (THCGME) Program
Special Diabetes Program (SDP)
Medicaid Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH) Cuts
Medicaid Money Follows the Person (MFP) Demonstration Program
Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs) Demonstration Program
Health Profession Opportunity Grant (HPOG)
Miscellaneous Medicare Add-On Payments and Program Extensions: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), National Quality Forum (NQF), and Geographic Practice Cost Indexes
November 30: Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Expires
December 31: Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) Alcohol and Energy Tax Extenders Expire
Key Political Dates Impacted by COVID-19
April 17: Wyoming Primary (Conducted Entirely by Mail) (Initially Scheduled for April 4)
April 28: Ohio Primary (Initially Scheduled for March 17)
May 2: Guam Democratic Caucus and Kansas Primary
May 12: Nebraska Primary
May 19: Oregon Primary
May 22: Hawaii Primary (Conducted Entirely by Mail) (Initially Scheduled for April 4)
June 2: Connecticut Primary (Initially Scheduled for April 28), Delaware Primary (Initially Scheduled for April 28), District of Columbia Primary, Indiana Primary (Initially Scheduled for May 5), Maryland Primary (Initially Scheduled for April 28), Montana Primary, New Mexico Primary, Pennsylvania Primary (Initially Scheduled for April 28), Rhode Island Primary (Initially Scheduled for April 28), and South Dakota Primary
June 6: Virgin Island Caucuses
June 9: Georgia Primary (Initially Scheduled for March 24) and West Virginia Primary (Initially Scheduled for May 12)
July 7: New Jersey Primary (Initially Scheduled for June 2)
July 11: Louisiana Primary (Initially Scheduled for April 4)
July 14: Alabama Republican Senate Primary Runoff (Initially Scheduled for March 31)
June 23: Kentucky Primary (Initially Scheduled for May 19), New York Primary (Initially Scheduled for April 28), Virginia Congressional Primary (Initially Scheduled for June 9)
August 17-20: Democratic National Convention (Milwaukee, WI) (Initially Scheduled for July 13-16)
August 24-27: Republican National Convention (Charlotte, NC)
November 3: Election Day