Good afternoon,

A lot is going on in Washington, D.C., to say the least. It will be a Christmas miracle if Congress successfully avoids a government shutdown by the end of this week. The quack, RFK Jr., visited Capitol Hill yesterday for the first time since he was nominated to lead the Department of Health and Human Services. Not to drone on and on, but over the weekend, mysterious drone sightings in various states including New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, Maryland, Connecticut, and Ohio sparked concern among residents. In response, some state and federal officials have called on Congress to act quickly and get a handle on the puzzling situation. Most likely, this hysteria is just camera phone footage of planes and stars. In fact, former Maryland Governor Larry Hogan filmed the constellation Orion and shared it on his social media, calling it a drone.

Here are a few important updates ...

FARM AID AND DISASTER RELIEF DEAL FLOPS

• This Friday is the government funding deadline and Congress still has a lot to do. Over the weekend, "congressional leaders failed to secure an agreement to add economic aid for farmers to the next stop-gap spending bill." With Speaker Mike Johnson juggling a narrow majority and opposition from members of his own party, all signs are pointing to the Speaker needing more Democratic votes before the current fund runs out, and that will certainly come at a cost.

• Unsurprisingly, Republican and Democratic lawmakers alike are blaming the opposite party for the collapse of the deal. According to Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and House Agriculture Committee ranking member David Scott (D-GA), "GOP leadership turned down a $10 billion offer, rejecting 'needed economic assistance and increased conservation spending for decades.'" At the end of the day, if Congress fails to pass a comprehensive plan that supports our farmers adequately, this will take a massive toll on rural Americans and communities.

• The Biden administration has also called on Congress to approve more than $100 billion in disaster aid for various agencies, including the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the departments of Agriculture, Housing and Urban Development, and Transportation. Once again, Congress is struggling to reach a deal that both sides can agree on and may just barely avert a shutdown.

EMPOWERING RURAL AMERICA

• Yesterday, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack announced $78.3 million in partially forgivable loans for clean energy projects through the Empowering Affordable Clean Energy (PACE) program to help lower electricity bills for households, expand reliable access to renewable energy, and create jobs for rural Americans. One Country Project applauds the USDA's investment and the Biden administration's commitment to lifting up rural America, creating a more affordable and sustainable future for everyone.

• As we've seen in 2024 especially, the impact of climate change is being felt across the country, especially in rural areas with increased extreme weather events. This year, the U.S. experienced 1,765 tornadoes and Hurricane Helene was the deadliest to hit the U.S. since Katrina in 2005. These natural disasters are just a few examples of what our country has faced over the past year. While the Biden administration is leaving off on a good page in regard to environment and renewable energy efforts, the future of these issues remains uncertain with the incoming, unpredictable administration.

• The 60th Presidential Inauguration will take place on Monday, January 20, 2025.

• The 119th Congress will be sworn in at noon on January 3rd. The 118th Congress may stay in session longer than in most prior years as a year-end supplemental bill to fund the government must pass the House and Senate, and the Senate continues working to confirm judges nominated by President Biden. President Biden is on pace to appoint at least 235 judges, which would eclipse the total number of judges appointed by Trump during his first term.

• The leadership race for the DNC is beginning to take shape with four candidates announced so far. Those include former Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley, Wisconsin Democratic Party Chair Ben Wickler, Minnesota DFL Party Chair Ken Martin, and New York State Senator James Skoufis. As many as 16 candidates have expressed interest in succeeding outgoing Chair Jamie Harrison of South Carolina. The DNC chair election will be held on February 1, 2025.

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