At noon today, Donald Trump will take the oath of office for his second term as President. The incoming administration is expected to focus its initial attention at immigration and border security, the economy (including renewal of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and imposing tariffs), and rolling back Biden-era regulations, with a slew of executive orders anticipated this week. In advance of his inauguration, Argentum sent the incoming president a letter today outlining our priorities.
The Republican-controlled Congress is expected to advance several measures to the new president’s desk in short succession. Last week, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) shared a plan with Republican lawmakers on options for using the budget reconciliation process to advance portions of the president’s agenda, which requires only a simple majority of both the House and the Senate. The House has a narrow 220-215 Republican majority and the Senate has a narrow 53-47 Republican majority, potentially allowing Republicans to craft legislation without Democratic support.
Johnson hopes to have Congress adopt a budget resolution by late February and complete a reconciliation package by mid-April. Donald Trump is supporting a single reconciliation package that will tackle multiple issues, writing earlier this month “We must Secure our Border, Unleash American Energy, and Renew the Trump Tax Cuts, which were the largest in History, but we will make it even better - NO TAX ON TIPS. IT WILL ALL BE MADE UP WITH TARIFFS, AND MUCH MORE, FROM COUNTRIES THAT HAVE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF THE U.S. FOR YEARS.”
Complicating the legislative process in the first 100-days of the administration will be a need to pass government spending. The American Relief Act was signed into law by President Biden in December to fund the government through March 14. That deal did not include an extension of the debt ceiling, which must also be addressed this year. Lawmakers will also need to consider extensions of two key health care programs: Medicare hospital-at-home and telehealth flexibilities, which currently are authorized through March 31, 2025. Lawmakers have sought to extend telehealth flexibilities for two years and hospital-at-home for five years.
The spending negotiations may include considerable attention on renewal of expiring provisions of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), which can be part of the budget reconciliation process, as it was when it was passed in 2017. Argentum is already working with leading lawmakers to incorporate our public policy priorities into any potential reconciliation package to expand access of assisted living and also to promote workforce solutions for long-term care settings.
The Senate is now in the process of considering the new administration’s nominees, with several hearings held last week and more to come this week. Key nominees include:
Argentum has outlined its priorities for the new administration, urging policymakers to promote senior living as a critical part of the solution to our nation’s long-term care challenges, as it is the most cost-effective long-term care model. Specifically, we asked for support of:
Argentum is also hopeful to work with the incoming VA Secretary, Doug Collins, upon his confirmation (a hearing in the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee is schedule for tomorrow). After passage of the Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act in December, we sent a letter to Collins to promote the new assisted living pilot program and ask for his support in implementing additional programs for veterans to choose assisted living for their long-term care needs, including improving the Aid and Attendance program.
We also look forward to advancing more workforce development programs, building on programs like the Healthcare Apprenticeship Expansion Program (HAEP), awarded in 2020 during the first Trump Administration that has supported more than 7,600 workers in training and development and led to high retention rates and increased career opportunities. Argentum is also leading efforts with community colleges, local job boards, American Job Centers, and Job Corps to promote the various career pathways in senior living.
Other issues that may come into play this year include housing policy and increased promotion of home-care in long-term care, which was a plank of the 2024 Republican party platform. Argentum has been advocating that senior living communities are broadly considered home by our residents and will seek to ensure any home care policies also include residents of senior living communities. Trump has also said he would "support a tax credit for family caregivers who take care of a parent or a loved one." Argentum will be working closely with the administration and Congress on opportunities to advance such a proposal as part of the TCJA reauthorization or another vehicle and to ensure it is broadly applicable to help support seniors and their families in choosing senior living for their care needs.
The new Congress will include a considerable change in leadership, particularly with party control changing in the Senate. John Thune (R-SD) has taken over as Senate Majority Leader with Mitch McConnell (R-KY) stepping down from leadership while remaining in the chamber. John Barrasso (R-WY) is the Senate Majority Whip, the position previously held by Thune. For the Democrats, Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) serve as Senate Minority Leader and Minority Whip, respectively; they have held the top-two leadership posts for Democrats since Harry Reid retired in 2017. Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA) now chairs the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee. In the Finance Committee, Mike Crapo (R-ID) will serve as chair, and Rick Scott (R-FL) now leads the Senate Aging Committee (see the Republican and Democratic Senate committee rosters; House committees are still being finalized).
Also in Congress, we will be working closely with the House 21st Century Long-Term Care Caucus to promote senior living as a solution to long-term care challenges. The new Congress will bring a new chair of the caucus, Rep. Josh Harder (D-CA), joining Reps. Debbie Dingell (D-MI) and Bryan Steil (R-WI) who co-chair the caucus. Members also include Reps. Barragan, Cherfilus-McCormick, Cuellar, Dean, Huffman, Kiggans, Magaziner, McGovern, Morelle, Pappas, Sanchez, Sewell, Strickland, Trahan, and Van Drew.
On regulatory issues, as Republicans have narrow control over both chambers and the White House, they may attempt to undo several Biden Administration regulatory actions by using the Congressional Review Act, a measure that allows Congress to overturn final rules issued by federal agencies by passing a joint resolution disapproving of the rule and prohibiting it from going into effect. A simple majority in both chambers is needed to send the measure to the president’s desk. Several CRAs were passed in this Congress, but were vetoed by President Biden and did not have the necessary two-thirds votes in both chambers to override the veto.
Several regulatory issues that may see action by Congress or the administration include those finalized last spring:
Do you want to be part of the process to advocate on behalf of senior living? Please join us for the Argentum Public Policy Institute, March 12-13.
All senior living advocates are encouraged to attend the event and join us for our lobbying efforts on Capitol Hill. Typically this event includes C-Suite officers, senior corporate legal, regulatory, and compliance staff, community level executive directors, and others who offer a valuable perspective on the needs facing senior living communities and the policies that can best help our industry. Importantly, no experience is necessary! All attendees will receive adequate preparation and guidance.