by Public Lands Council

Updates from the Hill

The end-of-year legislative dash is in full swing. As lawmakers prepare to close the year by meeting legislative deadlines, anticipation and apprehension set in ahead of the 119th Congress. Democrats are gearing up for contested committee leadership elections to determine ranking members, which has people viewing this as a generational shift in leadership. 

The Democratic Steering Committee will meet in two weeks to address disputes over committee leadership for the next Congress. PLC is closely eyeing the races in the House Natural Resources Committee. Representative Jared Huffman (D-CA) is the frontrunner in replacing outgoing ranking member Raul Grijalva (D-AZ). However, Representative Melanie Stansbury (D-NM) has earned her own set of endorsements. The outcome of this race can reshape Democrats’ role in the committee, defining their response to GOP priorities moving forward in the coming Congress. Meanwhile, the House Agriculture Committee and other key races are unfolding. Democratic ranking member David Scott (D-GA) faces challenges from Representatives Angie Craig (D-MN) and Jim Costa (D-CA) due to concerns for his health and leadership. This race could significantly impact the committee, with next year’s priority being the long-awaited Farm Bill should Congress extend the legislation instead of delivering a full reauthorization at the close of this Congress.  

Congressional leaders are locking in on negotiating the White House’s $115 billion disaster aid request. Disagreements are spurring due to spending priorities, creating delays on the package and a continuing resolution to avert a government shutdown. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer expressed optimism for bipartisan progress but cautioned the addition of divisive provisions that could derail any progress already being made on the bill. Democrats are advocating for expanded funding for programs like firefighter salaries, national parks, and climate resistance. They have expressed that these issues are directly related and needed for disaster recovery. Meanwhile, House Appropriators, led by Republican Appropriations Chair Tom Cole (R-OK), are pushing back, criticizing items like climate change initiatives and long-term projects as non-urgent spending. While Congressional leaders continue to evaluate the complexities of hurricane and wildfire disaster relief, Congress passed the Federal Disaster Tax Relief Act (H.R. 5863).

The Federal Disaster Tax Relief Act provides financial relief to natural disaster victims by easing the process of deducting losses and exempting certain aid payments from taxes. The bill, introduced by Rep. Greg Steube (R-FL), passed the Senate unanimously after clearing the House in May with a 382-7 vote. Senate Finance Chair Ron Wyden (D-OR) highlighted the bipartisan effort to fix issues created by the 2017 tax law. Initially tied to a larger tax package, the legislation gained traction as a standalone bill. This long-overdue tax relief will aid producers impacted by natural disasters nationwide. Essentially, this tax relief excludes taxpayer gross income, any amount received by an individual taxpayer for income tax purposes as compensation for expenses or losses incurred due to a qualified wildfire disaster. This outcome is a massive win for ranchers and the agriculture industry as a whole.