Download the report to learn more about progress that has been made, and potential movement to keep an eye on in 2025 depending on the results of November’s elections. 

The post 2024 118th Congress Report appeared first on Plural Policy.

The Importance of Effective Preparation for Congressional Testimony

Effective preparation for congressional testimony is crucial for several reasons:

• Accuracy and Credibility: Well-prepared testimony ensures that the information presented is accurate and reliable. This enhances your credibility as a witness, as well as the organization you represent.
• Influence Policy Decisions: Testimony can influence legislative decisions. Craft clear, compelling arguments that are well-supported by data. These facts can sway policy directions and impact legislative outcomes.
• Public Perception: Congressional hearings are often public and may receive media coverage. Effective preparation helps in managing public perception. It also aids in communicating your organization’s stance on critical issues to a broader audience.

Legal and Regulatory Compliance: In certain industries, testimony must comply with laws and regulations. Ensuring compliance helps avoid potential legal repercussions.

Who Should Use This Guide to Preparing for Congressional Testimony

• Executives and business leaders who may need to testify on legislation affecting their industries.
• Scientists and researchers who might provide expert testimony on technical subjects. This includes environmental impacts, technological advancements, or healthcare developments.
• Advocates who speak on behalf of communities and causes affected by potential legislation.
• Legal experts who can offer insights on the implications of law and policy.
• Government relations professionals who orchestrate the interaction between private entities and government bodies.

This guide aims to equip potential witnesses with the tools needed to prepare for a congressional hearing. From understanding the procedural aspects to delivering a persuasive oral statement and handling the post-hearing engagements, each step is critical. By following this guide, witnesses can approach their testimonies with confidence, backed by a thorough understanding of both the content and context of their messages.

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Experience the power of Plural first-hand with a free account or schedule a demo for a live walk through of the platform. Find out how Plural can transform the way you and your team shape policy and prepare for congressional testimony.

More Resources for Public Policy Teams

2024 118th Congress Report

Guide to Preparing for Congressional Testimony

Upcoming Changes to Party Leadership in Congress

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Congressional leaders control which legislation comes to a vote and when, which members sit on certain committees, and the priorities of both major parties in Congress. They even influence how other members vote on major issues. Knowing who these leaders are and what they do is key to understanding who holds the power in Congress.

For example, on March 22, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) filed a motion to vacate the Speaker of the House position. The House of Representatives likely will not take a vote on the issue unless Greene calls for it. If that happens and a majority of representatives approve it, this would remove Mike Johnson as speaker. The House is currently on recess until April 9.

Key Positions: Congressional Leaders

There are many congressional leadership positions in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. The most powerful are the Speaker of the House, majority and minority leaders, and whips. Of these, only the speaker is mentioned in the U.S. Constitution. The rest have been established by the traditions and rules of the political parties. Each leadership position has a different set of responsibilities.

Speaker of the House

The Speaker of the House is the presiding officer and spokesperson of the House of Representatives. The speaker maintains order on the House floor, applies House rules, decides on matters of order, and calls on members to speak. They work with other congressional leaders in the majority party to set the legislative agenda. Further, the speaker sends bills to committees and helps decide which ones come to the floor for debate and when. They may also negotiate with the opposing leader to gain minority party support for bills and budget resolutions. The speaker and House minority leader assign members to the Ethics, House Administration, and Rules committees, as well as all select committees.

While it is not a Constitutional requirement, every speaker in history has been a sitting representative. The House elects a new speaker every two years at the beginning of a new Congress. Each party’s caucus or conference decides on a candidate, and the parties put forward their choices for a vote. Repeated votes are held until one candidate receives a majority. While uncommon, representatives are free to vote for someone other than their party’s candidate. The speaker is almost always a member of the majority party.

Rarely, the House can elect a speaker in the middle of a congressional term if the position becomes vacant. The current Speaker of the House, Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA), was elected this way. The previous speaker, Rep. Kevin McCarthy (D-CA), took the post in January 2023 after fifteen rounds of voting and disagreement among Republicans. McCarthy became the first speaker ever removed through a motion to vacate in October of that year. A handful of Republicans and all Democrats voted to remove him from his post. This kicked off four more rounds of roll-call voting that led to Johnson’s election. McCarthy later resigned from Congress effective December 31, 2023.

Majority Leader

Majority leaders represent and speak for the majority party in each chamber of Congress. When multiple senators or representatives want to speak on the floor, the presiding officer will call on the majority leader first. They help set the legislative agenda, schedule bills on the calendar, and make committee recommendations. As spokespersons for their party, they may also help promote policies and gain public favor for them.

This role works a bit differently in the House of Representatives than it does in the Senate. Traditionally, the House majority leader is the speaker’s second-in-command and will share some of the above duties with the speaker. The responsibilities of each position can change slightly with each new speaker and majority leader pair. The House majority leader in 2024 is Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA).

In the Senate, the majority leader is effectively the leader of the chamber. The U.S. Constitution names the Vice President as the Senate’s presiding officer, but they are rarely active in proceedings. Instead, the majority leader often presides over the chamber, performing duties similar to the Speaker of the House. Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) is the current Senate majority leader.

The Democratic Caucus and Republican Conference each choose new majority leaders, minority leaders, and whips before the start of a new Congress. Unlike the Speaker of the House, these positions do not need a floor vote.

Minority Leader

Minority leaders are the opposition leaders in the House of Representatives and the Senate. As spokespersons for the minority party in each chamber, they represent their party’s members and interests. They have second priority to speak during floor debates, behind the majority leader. Depending on their party’s strategy, they may oppose the majority’s legislation or negotiate changes to a bill. If the President belongs to the same party, the minority leader often works with the White House toward the President’s legislative goals.

The minority leader also helps their party regain control of their chamber, often by giving campaign assistance. They criticize the majority’s policies and promote their own party’s agenda to the public.

Party leaders often keep their roles when control of a chamber switches, so a majority leader might become a minority leader. In the House of Representatives, the former Speaker of the House and the former majority leader may compete for the minority leader role.

Representative Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) is the House minority leader in 2024. As Democratic party leader, he serves as chair of the House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee. This group nominates party members for standing committee assignments and advises party leaders on policy. The current Senate minority leader is Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY), the longest-serving congressional leader in the Senate with a 17-year tenure as Republican party leader. He is chair of the Republican Steering Committee, which decides the party’s committee assignments.

Whip

Whips help their party leaders round up votes for legislation and support for their agenda. Both the majority and minority parties have them. The name comes from “whipper-in,” an old fox hunting term for hunters who kept dogs from straying from the chase.

In Congress, a whip’s job is to keep party members from straying from the party’s platform. They serve as communicators, negotiators, and enforcers of party discipline. They count the expected votes for important legislation and report feedback to their party leaders. If a piece of legislation needs more votes to pass, they work to persuade members to vote for it. Whips may negotiate changes to the bill or offer support for a different bill. The promise of a committee position, or the threat of losing one, can also change a member’s mind. In addition, whips inform party members about the current legislative agenda and the party’s positions on major issues.

Both parties may contain several congressional caucuses. Caucuses are subgroups which represent different interests and legislative goals. Sometimes, different caucuses conflict with each other. Whips aim to unite these different groups behind the party’s most important goals.

Whips may also be called “assistant majority leader,” “assistant minority leader,” “Democratic whip, or “Republican whip.” As of 2024, the current whips in Congress include:

• House Majority Whip Rep. Tom Emmer (R-MN)
• House Minority Whip Rep. Katherine Clark (D-MA)
• Senate Majority Whip Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL)
• Senate Minority Whip Sen. John Thune (R-SD)

Upcoming Changes to Congressional Leaders

At least some of the nation’s congressional leaders will change next year. In February 2024, Senator McConnell announced that he would step down from his position as Senate Minority Leader at the end of the year. Before the next Congress is seated in January 2025, the Senate Republican Conference will select a new leader.

One potential candidate for Republican Senate leader is Senator John Thune (R-SD), the current minority whip. He will need to step down as whip whether he is elected as the new leader or not. He has served three full two-year terms, which is the limit that Republicans set for their Senate leaders and committee chairs. The party leader is an exception to this rule, which is why McConnell was able to stay so long in his post.

The Speaker of the House position may also be contested at the start of 2024, if the last two speaker elections are any indication. Both took multiple rounds of voting before Republican representatives united behind a candidate.

Meanwhile, Democrats all supported Minority Leader Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) as speaker in both elections. If the majority party flips in the House of Representatives, Jeffries is the most likely candidate for speaker. Democrats would choose a new House majority leader, while Republicans would lose one of their leadership positions. A change in the majority of either the House or the Senate in 2025 would also shift that chamber’s legislative priorities.

Learn More About Congressional Leaders With Plural

Plural is the policy tracking and stakeholder management tool of choice for public policy teams seeking to monitor changes to congressional leadership, as well as key bills and legislative developments. With Plural, you’ll:

• Access superior public policy data 
• Be the first to know about new bills and changes in bill status
• Streamline your day with seamless organization features
• Harness the power of time-saving AI tools to gain insights into individual bills and the entire legislative landscape
• Keep everyone on the same page with internal collaboration and external reporting all in one place

Interested in getting started? Create a free account or book a demo today!

More Resources for Congress

2024 118th Congress Report

Guide to Preparing for Congressional Testimony

Upcoming Changes to Party Leadership in Congress

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The federal legislative process has always been opaque, and therefore difficult for ordinary citizens to follow and connect with. This is, after all, a driving force behind the creation of Plural as a source of open public policy data. The journey from an idea to an enacted law is far more complex than Schoolhouse Rock made it seem. This legislative process can often take years. The ongoing congressional battle over TikTok encapsulates this halting, confusing path. The recent passage of H.R. 7521 out of the House took many by surprise and has users of the app wondering how we got here.

While TikTok’s virality may still feel novel, official U.S. concern over the app surfaced almost five years ago. At that time, the FBI and military leaders cited national security risks related to the app. ByteDance, the company that develops and owns TikTok, has a close relationship with the Chinese government. The Trump administration then pressured TikTok to agree to host all of its U.S. user data under Oracle’s infrastructure. 

Despite this move to protect user data, lawmakers were still eager to act on TikTok. Beginning in 2022, we saw a wave of state legislation aimed at banning TikTok. Most of these bills, like Texas’ SB 1893, sought to ban the use of TikTok by government officials and on government devices. The Biden administration followed a similar path by banning the use of TikTok on federal devices. Montana’s SB 419, enacted in May 2023, went a step further. The new law banned the use of TikTok by anyone in Montana. A federal judge later blocked this ban before it went into effect. 

After years of debate, Congress wanted to go further. After being introduced on March 5, the House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed HR. 7521, the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, on March 13. The bill now heads to the Senate with many more eyes tracking its progress.

What would H.R. 7521 do?

H.R. 7521 would prohibit companies from providing distribution or hosting services to “foreign adversary-controlled applications.” This would force companies like Apple and Google to remove TikTok from their app stores. It would also prevent internet service providers from supporting access to the application. The bill narrowly defines “foreign adversary-controlled applications” to apply to TikTok. However, it does provide an avenue for other applications to be banned in this way. 

The bill doesn’t include penalties for individual users of TikTok, and it wouldn’t remove TikTok from anyone’s phone. But, without web hosting services or the support of app distributors like Apple and Google, the application would quickly become buggy and unusable.

The bill also provides an exemption for certain action taken by ByteDance. If ByteDance divests from TikTok within 165 days of enactment, application support would not be banned. In short, the bill gives ByteDance 165 days to sell TikTok, or be banned from the U.S. 

So – Is a TikTok Ban Imminent?

H.R. 7521 passed out of the House by a wide margin and President Biden has signaled he will sign it if it reaches his desk. However, there are still many barriers between where we stand on March 15th and a TikTok ban. 

First, the House vote caught many by surprise, in part because the bill moved so quickly from introduction to passage. The reaction to the House vote has ensured that any debate on this bill in the Senate will be met with significant attention from all sides. This additional attention may not change any vote, but it will certainly slow down the process. 

Second, even if the bill does pass, its divestment exemption provisions pave the way for TikTok to stay usable in the U.S., as long as ByteDance is willing to sell the application. A sale could be complicated by a lack of willingness to sell from ByteDance or anti-trust concerns here in the U.S. 

Finally, even if the bill does successfully pass, its enactment would be swiftly followed by litigation from ByteDance and others. ByteDance has hinted that they would continue their fight in the courts if H.R. 7521 passes. The American Civil Liberties Union is also organizing opposition to H.R. 7521. It would likely support legal challenges to the law, among many other groups.

Taken together, these obstacles will slow the momentum of this past week. While a TikTok ban might feel imminent, it’s unlikely that any enforcement of the bill, if passed, would begin before the end of 2024. There remain many hurdles to pass before H.R. 7521 becomes law.

Get Started With Plural

Plural is the legislative tracking tool of choice for policy teams looking to gain greater insights into the policies that matter. With Plural, you’ll:

• Access superior public policy data 
• Be the first to know about new bills and changes in bill status
• Streamline your day with seamless organization features
• Harness the power of time-saving AI tools to gain insights into individual bills and the entire legislative landscape
• Keep everyone on the same page with internal collaboration and external reporting all in one place

Create a free account or book a demo today!

More Resources for Congress

2024 118th Congress Report

Guide to Preparing for Congressional Testimony

Upcoming Changes to Party Leadership in Congress

The post Is Congress About to Ban TikTok? appeared first on Plural Policy.

Policy briefs are concise, written documents that provide policymakers with a clear understanding of an issue and suggest policy options based on research, analysis, and evidence.

When effective, policy briefs can be used to advance your organization’s goals, influence decision-making, position yourself or your organization as a thought leader, and more!

Need help getting started? Download our fully-customizable policy brief template and start writing your effective policy brief today!

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In this guide, you’ll learn about:

• Types of Committees
• Key Senate and House Committees
• The Role of Committee Chairs and Membership
• The Legislative Process within Committees
• How to Monitor Committees

Explore More Resources for Public Policy Teams

2024 118th Congress Report

Guide to Preparing for Congressional Testimony

Upcoming Changes to Party Leadership in Congress

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An Introduction to Congressional Committees

Congressional committees are specialized groups within Congress tasked with specific legislative functions. These include drafting legislation, conducting hearings, and overseeing the executive. The role of a committee is critical in the passage of legislation. Committees sift through proposed legislation to assess their necessity and potential impacts. They’re a key step before proposed legislation reaches the full Congress.

Senate Committees

The Senate operates many committees, each with its jurisdiction over specific policy areas. Notable committees include:

• The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, which is responsible for managing many health programs.
• The Senate Committee on Finance, pivotal in tax legislation and the federal budget.

Monitoring these committees is essential, due to their significant influence on national policies.

House Committees

The House of Representatives also boasts a variety of committees with broad jurisdiction. This includes:

• The House Ways and Means Committee, which plays a key role in overseeing taxation and welfare.
• The House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis was established in recent years. It has been instrumental in guiding the nation’s response to the pandemic.

These committees are vital in initiating discussions that shape the legislative agenda.

Joint Congressional Committees

Joint committees consist of members from both the Senate and the House. These committees manage issues of common interest, like the federal budget or taxation. Joint committees coordinate, research, and analyze data to guide Congress’s decision-making. As such, they’re a critical component of the legislative process.

Committees of Interest

In recent times, certain committees have been in the spotlight for various reasons. This includes, for instance:

• The House Committee on Rules, responsible for determining the terms of debate for bills. The House Committee on Rules has been crucial in the fast-paced legislative environment.
• The Senate Committee on Foreign Relations manages international diplomacy and security issues. This committee has garnered interest due to conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.

Keeping an eye on these committees and more can provide valuable insights into pressing national concerns.

Find Info about Congressional Committees on Plural

Plural streamlines the process of staying updated with congressional committees. With real-time updates, detailed analyses, and historical data, ensure you remain informed about the latest legislative developments pertinent to your interests. Interested in getting started? Create a free account or book a demo today!

More Resources for Government Affairs Teams

2024 118th Congress Report

Guide to Preparing for Congressional Testimony

Upcoming Changes to Party Leadership in Congress

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A Divided Congress

The division within the Congress reflects a nation that is ideologically split. In recent years, each party has championed distinct legislative agendas. Democratic priorities have centered on pressing societal challenges. This includes:

• The Inflation Reduction Act, which sought to mitigate skyrocketing living costs
• The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the CHIPS Act of 2022 both focused on comprehensive infrastructural and technological advancements
• The No Surprises Act, which aimed to protect consumers from unexpected medical bills;

Further Democratic priorities included combating inflation, addressing energy costs, and promoting clean energy.

Republican efforts have revolved around different focal points. The Healthy Future Task Force proposed healthcare reforms. The Task Force aimed to provide Americans with more choices and lower costs. The party also pushed broader economic strategies, like the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Republicans have also advocated for reengagement in global trade agreements. This includes the Trans-Pacific Partnership.

Breaking the Gridlock

Political gridlock is not an insurmountable impasse. Bipartisanship is possible, even in our current divided political landscape. Strategic collaborations and mutual concessions have paved the way for landmark bipartisan achievements.

Bipartisanship in Congress

Instances of bipartisan agreement have not been as scarce as one might presume. Significant legislation emerged as products of cooperative legislative efforts. This includes the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 and the Bipartisan Defense Bill. Common ground, though often elusive, is attainable and can lead to policy advancements.

Bipartisan Legislators in Congress

The Problem Solvers Caucus consists of both Democrats and Republicans. Caucus members worked to craft and forward cooperative solutions. Beyond the caucus, figures from both sides of the aisle have occasionally eschewed party lines to pursue the greater public good.

Looking Ahead: Bipartisanship in Congress

As the 2024 elections approach, the political arena may experience heightened partisan tensions. Complex foreign relations dynamics present further challenges to bipartisan efforts. This includes the ongoing conflicts in Israel and Ukraine. Yet, these obstacles also offer opportunities for unity. Addressing shared concerns and forging a collective front may draw bipartisan support.

Understanding and appreciating the implications of bipartisanship are crucial for the electorate. Cooperative politics doesn’t just shape legislative outcomes. It defines the health of our democratic institutions and the well-being of our nation. As we move toward another election cycle, the American public holds the key to endorsing a more collaborative political future.

More Resources for Public Policy Teams

2024 118th Congress Report

Guide to Preparing for Congressional Testimony

Upcoming Changes to Party Leadership in Congress

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What Is a Bill?

A bill is a proposal for a new law or an amendment to an existing law. It’s the raw material of law-making; an idea drafted in legal form, subjected to the rigorous legislative process. Bills can originate from either legislative chamber. They can also encompass a wide range of issues, from appropriations to policy reforms across various sectors.

How a Bill Becomes a Law: The Key Steps

Drafting the Bill

The idea for a new law can come from anyone. Typically, ideas for bills come from members of the legislative body, government agencies, or the executive branch. In this step of the process, the idea is put into a formal text.

Introducing the Bill

A member of the legislature must sponsor and introduce the bill. Upon introduction, the bill is assigned a number and title, read aloud, and entered into the legislative record.

Referral to Committee

The bill is referred to one or more standing committees that specialize in the bill’s subject matter. This marks the bill’s first major hurdle.

Legislative Action in Committee

Much of a bill’s shaping occurs at the committee stage, where it’s examined in detail.

Committee Action

Committees review, discuss, and modify the bill, deciding if it should proceed. They’re pivotal, with the power to effectively green-light or halt a bill’s journey.

Public Hearings and Citizen Engagement

Committees hold public hearings, inviting experts, public officials, and relevant stakeholders to provide insights. Citizen engagement here is crucial, as public opinion can influence the bill’s progression.

Reporting Out of Committee

If the committee approves the bill, it’s “reported” back to the floor of the entire legislative body. The bill is accompanied by a committee report explaining the bill and the committee’s recommendations.

Floor Debate

Once a bill reaches the floor, it’s debated by the entire legislative body. At this stage, the bill can still be amended or even rewritten entirely.

Voting by a Simple Majority Vote

Most bills require a simple majority vote to proceed. If successful, they move to the other legislative chamber or, if already passed in an identical form, to the executive.

Amendments

During debate, amendments can be added, altering the bill’s content. Significant amendments can necessitate additional rounds of voting.

Conference Committee Report

It’s possible that the two legislative chambers could pass different versions of the bill. In this case, a conference committee of members from both houses is formed to reconcile differences. The committee’s final version, the Conference Committee Report, must be approved by both chambers.

Approval by Majority Vote

The final step in the legislature is approval by a majority vote in both chambers. Following this, the bill heads to the executive for approval or veto.

Visualizing How a Bill Becomes a Law

The visual below breaks down the intricate journey a bill undertakes, from inception to becoming a law. Understanding each step is essential for those looking to engage with or influence the legislative process.

Get Started with Plural

Plural offers best-in-class data, advanced searching and tracking, and AI-powered tools to help public policy professionals deepen their legislative insights. Create a free account or book a demo to learn how Plural can amplify your policy impact.

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If you don’t report it, it didn’t happen, right? And if you can’t find the data you need to document all of your work throughout the session, you can’t report on it. 

Creating a legislative report is key to proving the impact of your role, your team and your organization. It showcases the tangible results of your work to your board, stakeholders and community members.

Need help getting started? Download our end-of-session report template today!

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