The Senate officially adjourned Aug. 14 for the annual August recess. This decreases the likelihood that a deal on a comprehensive COVID-19 supplemental package will materialize before the House and Senate fully return to the Capitol in September. If negotiators fail to reach an agreement on a comprehensive package in the near term, they will have another bite at the apple as part of must-pass fiscal year 2021 spending legislation.
With legislators back home for August, essential hospitals should continue to engage with their congressional delegations locally and advocate for their key priorities.
House Lawmakers Will Pause Recess to Address Postal Service Funding
Meanwhile, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) announced that House lawmakers will return to Washington, D.C., this coming weekend to vote on legislation intended to implement policy changes and protections for the U.S. Postal Service. At this time, it is unclear whether the legislation will focus solely on postal policy issues or if other COVID-19-related policies might be included.
Washington Update During Virtual VITAL
As part of the annual VITAL conference, association staff present a programming session on the latest federal policy updates important to essential hospitals. Join Beth Feldpush, DrPH, senior vice president of policy and advocacy, and Carlos Jackson, vice president of legislative affairs, for the Federal Legislative and Regulatory Update Tuesday, Aug. 18, at 12:10 pm ET. This live session is open to all registered VITAL conference attendees and will be available on-demand for conference attendees for a year following the conference.
