House and Senate Advance Competing FY 2025 Budget Plans

• By: USAging
• On: 02/14/2025 13:02:53
• In: Policy & Advocacy

This week, the House and Senate Budget Committees advanced their respective, but competing, FY 2025 budget resolutions. While a budget resolution does not have the force of law, it can direct other committees to cut or increase spending or alter the tax code. To advance their bold proposals with a narrow majority, Republicans in Congress intend to use a budget process called reconciliation, which bypasses the Senate's filibuster rule, making it possible to make these significant changes with only the support of 51 Senators.  

Senate Budget Committee Republicans passed their budget resolution on Wednesday, which includes instructions for two separate reconciliation packages, with one bill focusing on immigration and defense and the other on spending and taxes. The Senate proposal directs the Senate HELP and Finance Committees to find $1 billion in funding cuts; these committees collectively have jurisdiction over OAA, Medicare and Medicaid.  

The House is taking a single, massive reconciliation bill approach and the House Budget Committee approved its budget resolution last night. This proposal would cut mandatory spending by at least $1.5 trillion, allow Congress to pursue up to $4.5 trillion in tax cuts and increase the debt ceiling by $4 trillion. It also directs significant cuts for committees, including Energy and Commerce ($880 billion), Education and Workforce ($330 billion) and Agriculture ($230 billion), which would likely impact Medicaid, OAA and other nutrition programs such as SNAP.  

With a slim majority and several Republicans concerned with some provisions, it is unclear if the House will be able to advance these aggressive cuts in their post-recess vote when they return on February 24. However, the Senate could vote on its proposal as early as next week. Stay tuned for an Advocacy Alert next week to help you educate Congress on what these cuts in funding would mean for Medicaid HCBS, OAA and the people you serve with these critical programs.