October 27, 2023

What's Happening This Week...

• What We’re Tracking in DC
• Federal Government Opportunities and Updates
• Happening in the States
• News, Resources, and Events

What We're Tracking in DC

A New Speaker and Congress’ Lengthy To-Do List
On Wednesday, the House elected Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA) as the 56th Speaker of the House. Speaker Johnson now takes on one of the most important roles in the U.S. government. The Speaker is the House of Representatives’ presiding officer, meaning they set the legislative agenda and have authority over most legislative proceedings in the House.

Speaker Johnson takes the gavel at a time when Congress has a long list of items to address. Most pressing, government funding runs out November 17, and the Speaker must negotiate a spending package—or another continuing resolution—with the Senate and White House. Thus far, it seems that Speaker Johnson supports an additional continuing resolution to fund the government into 2024.

Congress must also tackle:

• An aid package for Israel and Ukraine, which could be paired with additional spending to secure the southern border
• The Farm Bill, which reauthorizes many agriculture and nutrition programs
• Reauthorizing the Federal Aviation Administration
• The National Defense Authorization Act, an annual must-pass bill authorizing U.S. defense programs

Because of the divided government, all these issues must have bipartisan, bicameral support to be resolved.

Federal Government Opportunities and Updates

• The U.S. Agency for International Development, in partnership with Humanity United, announced the launch of the Powered by the People initiative. This $45 million program aims to empower organizers and social movements that work to advance human rights, social justice, democracy, and inclusive development globally.
• The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued guidance on the prohibition of some gifts to Type I and Type III supporting organizations. The regulations include additional requirements for Type III supporting organizations.
• The IRS also released a caution to individuals looking to donate to charities in the wake of disaster. They highlighted the prevalence of fake charities seeking to scan unsuspecting donors.
• The IRS published a letter confirming that some expenses associated with acquiring art count as qualifying distributions for private foundations. 

Happening in the States

Support for the Child Care Sector in the States
Federal pandemic relief for child care ended on September 30, leaving many child care providers and parents around the country concerned about the impact on costs and accessibility. Nonprofit providers throughout the country are pointing to the negative effects, while some states – including California, Minnesota, and Nebraska – have taken action to minimize the effects or to expand funding.

States Enact Data Privacy Laws
Twelve states have enacted data privacy legislation, so far. Laws in Connecticut, Colorado, Virginia, and Utah go into effect this year; of those, only Colorado includes nonprofits under compliance requirements.  Indiana, Iowa, Montana, and Texas become effective next year. The laws determine how consumers’ data may be used, collected, and shared. For-profit companies and others collecting data may be required to delete, correct, or protect certain data if asked for by the consumer. This month, California Governor Newsom signed the Delete Act to create a one-stop shop for individuals to delete personal data.

News & Resources

• The Terrifying Learning Curve Facing Mike Johnson, Politico
• How Rich Donors and Loose Rules Are Transforming College Sports, New York Times
• Is Federal Infrastructure Spending Advancing Racial and Economic Equity?, Urban Institute 

Keep in Touch!

Please feel free to reach out to any of us on the Government Relations Team with comments or concerns, or to share an issue, article, event, or op-ed you would like to see covered in a future Washington Snapshot.

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