{"id":1461,"date":"2025-01-06T14:54:21","date_gmt":"2025-01-06T14:54:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cms.hhs.com\/?p=1461"},"modified":"2025-01-06T14:55:59","modified_gmt":"2025-01-06T14:55:59","slug":"johnson-reelected-house-speaker","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cms.hhs.com\/index.php\/2025\/01\/06\/johnson-reelected-house-speaker\/","title":{"rendered":"Johnson Reelected House Speaker"},"content":{"rendered":"

Johnson Reelected House Speaker \u2013 <\/strong>Republican Representative Mike Johnson (R-La.) was reelected speaker of the House on Friday. Johnson narrowly secured the speakership with 218 votes to House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries\u2019 (D-N.Y.) 215 votes. Two last-minute conservative holdouts – Reps. Keith Self (R-Texas) and Ralph Norman (R-S.C.) \u2013 switched their votes to Johnson after initially voting for other candidates. The lawmakers faced pressure from President-elect Donald Trump to drop their opposition to Johnson, and were offered assurances from Johnson that he would \u201cinvolve members at every level.\u201d Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) was ultimately the only Republican to vote in opposition to Johnson. While the GOP will control the White House and both chambers of Congress come Inauguration Day, Johnson will lead the House of Representatives with the slimmest margin of control either party has held since 1930.<\/p>\n

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The House also adopted a rules package for the 119th<\/sup> Congress last week. The package is largely in line with the chamber\u2019s rules from the 118th <\/sup>Congress, with several notable amendments. The threshold to oust the speaker of the House has been raised to nine members of the majority party. Former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R) was voted out of leadership under a motion to vacate threshold of just a single majority member. The rules package also includes a provision to limit votes on suspensions measures \u2014 which require two-thirds support for passage \u2014 to just Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, as well as provisions to maintain the Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party and direct the House Administration Committee, the House clerk, the chief administrative officer, and other officials to continue to integrate AI technologies into House operations and functions.\u00a0The rules package tees up consideration of a dozen measures under a closed rule without any committee process, including legislation to require health care providers to provide necessary medical care to a child who survives an abortion attempt, as well as a bill to permanently classify fentanyl-related substances as Schedule I drugs.<\/p>\n

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The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning for the District of Columbia, with snowfall forecast from late Sunday through early Tuesday. Congress is due to certify the results of the November presidential election tomorrow. \u201cThe Electoral Count Act requires this on January 6 at 1 p.m. – so, whether we\u2019re in a blizzard or not we\u2019re going to be in that chamber making sure this is done,” Johnson stated over the weekend.<\/p>\n

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Former President Jimmy Carter Dies at Age 100 \u2013 <\/strong>Former President Jimmy\u00a0Carter\u00a0(D), the 39th president of the United States, passed away on December 29 at the age of 100. During his presidency Carter prioritized efforts to improve the nation\u2019s mental health care system. Early in his term, President\u00a0Carter\u00a0established the Presidential Commission on Mental Health, building upon similar efforts he initiated while serving as governor of Georgia. Later in his presidency,\u00a0Carter\u00a0advocated for a National Health Plan aimed at creating a framework for achieving universal health coverage. After leaving office,\u00a0Carter\u00a0devoted himself to philanthropy, most notably through his work with Habitat for Humanity and the establishment of the\u00a0Carter\u00a0Center, which has focused on the elimination of preventable diseases. In 2002,\u00a0Carter\u00a0was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his tireless work to promote human rights, facilitate peace negotiations, and advance social welfare. The former president will lie in state at the Capitol from the afternoon of January 7 through the morning of January 9; the building will be open to the public during designated times for those who wish to pay their respects. A memorial service will be held at the Washington National Cathedral on January 9. Federal offices and financial markets will be closed on Thursday in observation of a national day of mourning, while flags will be flown at half-staff at the White House and government offices and grounds for 30 days.<\/p>\n

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Republicans Begin Outlining Agendas for 119th<\/sup> Congress<\/strong> \u2013 Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) pledged to preserve the legislative filibuster during his first remarks as the new Senate majority leader on the floor last week. He also stated his intention to bring appropriations bills to the floor for votes during his leadership tenure. Thune previewed his agenda for the chamber\u2019s first 10 weeks in session, outlining his plans to focus first on confirmation of President Donald Trump\u2019s nominations. Senators were sworn in on Friday with the commencement of the 119th<\/sup> Congress. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) was sworn in as president pro tempore.<\/p>\n

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In the House of Representatives, leadership has told members that they will attempt to tie a $1.5 trillion increase to the nation\u2019s debt limit to $2.5 trillion in spending cuts over the next decade. The GOP will try to advance the proposal via the budget reconciliation process. GOP leadership did not specify what spending would be targeted for cuts. The 2023 suspension of the debt limit expired on January 1, but the Treasury Department can extend the effective deadline, likely until mid-2025, through the use of so-called extraordinary measures to temporarily keep the government from defaulting on its debt.<\/p>\n

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Updates to Congressional Committee Assignments \u2013<\/strong> Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) has announced<\/a> Senate Democrat committee assignments for the 119th<\/sup> Congress. Of note are changes that will impact congressional panels with health care jurisdiction. Joining the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee are newly elected senators Angela Alsobrooks (Md.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (Del.), and Andy Kim (N.J.). Sens. Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (N.M.) and Tina Smith (Minn.) will depart the HELP Committee but join the Finance Committee, along with Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Raphael Warnock (Ga.), and Peter Welch (Vt.), who are also joining Finance.<\/p>\n

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Lawmakers Consider Next Steps for 21st<\/sup> Century Cures \u2013 <\/strong>Rep. Diana DeGette (D-Colo.) and former Rep. Larry Bucshon, M.D. (R-Ind.)\u00a0have released a roadmap<\/a> of next steps for the Cures 2.0 Act<\/em> and the 21st Century Cures initiative. The lawmakers issued a request for information last year that received more than 300 responses and recommendations to further innovation and access to quality health care. According to a press release<\/a> from Rep. DeGette\u2019s office, a potential \u201cCures 2.1\u201d update would aim to:<\/p>\n