News
Federal Legislative Update
Disability
- Disability Claims Skyrocket:
- The number of Americans claiming disabilities has surged nearly 35% since 2020, reaching 38.8 million by November 2024. This has posed challenges for insurers and businesses.
- Contributing factors include Long COVID, the exacerbation of pre-existing conditions, a rise in mental health disorders, and ergonomic injuries from remote work setups. Aging populations and improved diagnostic awareness have also driven the increase.
- This trend pressures insurers financially while creating potential opportunities for growth through individual insurance products and workplace wellness initiatives. However, insurers may face difficulties balancing rising claims with limited revenue gains due to economic constraints on consumers.
Employment/DOL
- DOL’s Loaded Agenda:
- As the DOL transitions to President-elect Trump's administration, significant shifts in labor policy are expected.
- Key priorities include repealing Biden-era rules that expanded overtime pay and redefined worker classification to favor employees over independent contractors.
- The DOL will also likely revive President Trump's earlier policies limiting work visas, scrutinizing immigrant labor, and reshaping workplace safety regulations, such as those concerning extreme heat.
Other Federal Updates
Speaker Johnson is elected to Speaker:
-Despite the controversy on the budget just before the Holidays, Speaker Johnson was re-elected to Speaker on the first ballot having to flip just two votes to his favor before closing the vote
-Johnson had received the support of President Trump and early support in the first vote from initial detractors such as Chip Roy of Texas
Senate to retain filibuster in Republican majority
- Majority Leader Thune committed to keeping the filibuster in the Senate meaning the 60-vote threshold will stand for all non-budgetary votes (and those not pertaining to confirmations)
- In the same speech, he committed to clearing President Trump’s cabinet and administration officials first as the Senate comes to order. He said he planned to prioritize the national security nominations in the wake of the terrorism in New Orleans and Las Vegas.
Impact of New Orleans Attack on Trump Nominations:
- The ISIS-inspired terrorist attack in New Orleans, where a suspect drove through a crowd on Bourbon Street, killing 15 people and injuring dozens, has amplified calls from Senate Republicans to expedite the confirmation of President-elect Donald Trump’s national security nominees.
- GOP leaders, including incoming Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso and Majority Leader John Thune, stress that this attack highlights the urgency of having Trump’s national security team in place swiftly.
- However, the timeline for confirming some nominees, such as Pete Hegseth for Pentagon, Kash Patel for FBI, and Tulsi Gabbard for director of national intelligence, remains uncertain, with hearings slated for January but potential delays due to committee processes.
Tech Privacy Legislation:
- Rep. Brett Guthrie (R-Ky.), newly appointed chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, has expressed a strong desire to tackle tech-related issues, particularly privacy and children's online safety.
- Rep. Guthrie is prioritizing a comprehensive privacy bill for all users, though he is also open to focusing first on children's protection, especially via the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA).
- While KOSA has faced challenges, including objections from Speaker Mike Johnson about its impact on free speech, Guthrie plans to meet with Sen. Ted Cruz, who will chair the Senate Commerce Committee, to align legislative priorities when Congress returns in 2025.
House Ethics Investigations Dropped:
- The House Ethics Committee has dropped campaign finance-related investigations into four lawmakers—Reps. Sanford Bishop (D-Ga.), Wesley Hunt (R-Texas), Ronny Jackson (R-Texas), and Alex Mooney (R-W.Va.)—concluding that there was no intentional misuse of campaign funds for personal benefit.
- However, the committee issued a statement cautioning against the personal use of campaign funds and clarified the rules around allowable expenditures.
- Despite dropping the investigations, the committee found instances where campaign funds were not used in compliance with reporting and recordkeeping requirements.
Agriculture
John Boozman, Arkansas (Chair)
Mitch McConnell, Kentucky
John Hoeven, North Dakota
Joni Ernst, Iowa
Cindy Hyde-Smith, Mississippi
Roger Marshall, Kansas
Tommy Tuberville, Alabama
Jim Justice, West Virginia
Chuck Grassley, Iowa
John Thune, South Dakota
Deb Fischer, Nebraska
Jerry Moran, Kansas
Senator Klobuchar (D-MN) – Ranking
Senator Bennet (D-CO)
Senator Smith (D-MN)
Senator Durbin (D-IL)
Senator Booker (D-NJ)
Senator Luján (D-NM)
Senator Warnock (D-GA)
Senator Welch (D-VT)
Senator Fetterman (D-PA)
Senator Schiff (D-CA)
Senator Slotkin (D-MI)
Appropriations
Susan Collins, Maine (Chair)
Mitch McConnell, Kentucky
Lisa Murkowski, Alaska
Lindsey Graham, South Carolina
Jerry Moran, Kansas
John Hoeven, North Dakota
John Boozman, Arkansas
Shelley Moore Capito, West Virginia
John Kennedy, Louisiana
Cindy Hyde-Smith, Mississippi
Bill Hagerty, Tennessee
Katie Britt, Alabama
Markwayne Mullin, Oklahoma
Deb Fischer, Nebraska
Mike Rounds, South Dakota
Senator Murray (D-WA) – Ranking
Senator Durbin (D-IL)
Senator Reed (D-RI)
Senator Shaheen (D-NH)
Senator Merkley (D-OR)
Senator Coons (D-DE)
Senator Schatz (D-HI)
Senator Baldwin (D-WI)
Senator Murphy (D-CT)
Senator Van Hollen (D-MD)
Senator Heinrich (D-NM)
Senator Peters (D-MI)
Senator Gillibrand (D-NY)
Senator Ossoff (D-GA)
Armed Services
Roger Wicker, Mississippi (Chair)
Deb Fischer, Nebraska
Tom Cotton, Arkansas
Mike Rounds, South Dakota
Joni Ernst, Iowa
Dan Sullivan, Alaska
Kevin Cramer, North Dakota
Rick Scott, Florida
Tommy Tuberville, Alabama
Markwayne Mullin, Oklahoma
Ted Budd, North Carolina
Eric Schmitt, Missouri
Jim Banks, Indiana
Tim Sheehy, Montana
Senator Reed (D-RI) – Ranking
Senator Shaheen (D-NH)
Senator Gillibrand (D-NY)
Senator Blumenthal (D-CT)
Senator Hirono (D-HI)
Senator Kaine (D-VA)
Senator King (I-ME)
Senator Warren (D-MA)
Senator Peters (D-MI)
Senator Duckworth (D-IL)
Senator Rosen (D-NV)
Senator Kelly (D-AZ)
Senator Slotkin (D-MI)
Banking
Tim Scott, South Carolina (Chair)
Mike Crapo, Idaho
Mike Rounds, South Dakota
Thom Tillis, North Carolina
John Kennedy, Louisiana
Bill Hagerty, Tennessee
Cynthia Lummis, Wyoming
Katie Britt, Alabama
Pete Ricketts, Nebraska
Jim Banks, Indiana
Kevin Cramer, North Dakota
Bernie Moreno, Ohio
Dave McCormick, Pennsylvania
Senator Warren (D-MA) – Ranking
Senator Reed (D-RI)
Senator Warner (D-VA)
Senator Van Hollen (D-MD)
Senator Cortez Masto (D-NV)
Senator Smith (D-MN)
Senator Warnock (D-GA)
Senator Kim (D-NJ)
Senator Gallego (D-AZ)
Senator Blunt Rochester (D-DE)
Senator Alsobrooks (D-MD)
Commerce
Ted Cruz, Texas (Chair)
John Thune, South Dakota
Roger Wicker, Mississippi
Deb Fischer, Nebraska
Jerry Moran, Kansas
Dan Sullivan, Alaska
Marsha Blackburn, Tennessee
Todd Young, Indiana
Ted Budd, North Carolina
Eric Schmitt, Missouri
John Curtis, Utah
Bernie Moreno, Ohio
Tim Sheehy, Montana
Shelley Moore Capito, West Virginia
Cynthia Lummis, Wyoming
Senator Cantwell (D-WA) - Ranking
Senator Klobuchar (D-MN)
Senator Schatz (D-HI)
Senator Markey (D-MA)
Senator Peters (D-MI)
Senator Baldwin (D-WI)
Senator Duckworth (D-IL)
Senator Rosen (D-NV)
Senator Luján (D-NM)
Senator Hickenlooper (D-CO)
Senator Fetterman (D-PA)
Senator Kim (D-NJ)
Senator Blunt Rochester (D-DE)
Energy
Mike Lee, Utah (Chair)
John Barrasso, Wyoming
Jim Risch, Idaho
Steve Daines, Montana
Tom Cotton, Arkansas
Jim Justice, West Virginia
Dave McCormick, Pennsylvania
Bill Cassidy, Louisiana
Cindy Hyde-Smith, Mississippi
Lisa Murkowski, Alaska
John Hoeven, North Dakota
Senator Heinrich (D-NM) – Ranking
Senator Wyden (D-OR)
Senator Cantwell (D-WA)
Senator Hirono (D-HI)
Senator King (I-ME)
Senator Cortez Masto (D-NV)
Senator Hickenlooper (D-CO)
Senator Padilla (D-CA)
Senator Gallego (D-AZ)
Environment and Public Works
Shelley Moore Capito, West Virginia (Chair)
Kevin Cramer, North Dakota
Cynthia Lummis, Wyoming
John Curtis, Utah
Lindsey Graham, South Carolina
Dan Sullivan, Alaska
Pete Ricketts, Nebraska
Roger Wicker, Mississippi
John Boozman, Arkansas
Jerry Moran, Kansas
Senator Whitehouse (D-RI) – Ranking
Senator Sanders (I-VT)
Senator Merkley (D-OR)
Senator Markey (D-MA)
Senator Kelly (D-AZ)
Senator Padilla (D-CA)
Senator Schiff (D-CA)
Senator Blunt Rochester (D-DE)
Senator Alsobrooks (D-MD)
Finance
Mike Crapo, Idaho (Chair)
Chuck Grassley, Iowa
John Cornyn, Texas
John Thune, South Dakota
Tim Scott, South Carolina
Bill Cassidy, Louisiana
James Lankford, Oklahoma
Steve Daines, Montana
Todd Young, Indiana
John Barrasso, Wyoming
Ron Johnson, Wisconsin
Thom Tillis, North Carolina
Marsha Blackburn, Tennessee
Roger Marshall, Kansas
Senator Wyden (D-OR) – Ranking
Senator Cantwell (D-WA)
Senator Bennet (D-CO)
Senator Warner (D-VA)
Senator Whitehouse (D-RI)
Senator Hassan (D-NH)
Senator Cortez Masto (D-NV)
Senator Warren (D-MA)
Senator Sanders (I-VT)
Senator Smith (D-MN)
Senator Luján (D-NM)
Senator Warnock (D-GA)
Senator Welch (D-VT)
Foreign Relations
Jim Risch, Idaho (Chair)
Pete Ricketts, Nebraska
Dave McCormick, Pennsylvania
Steve Daines, Montana
Bill Hagerty, Tennessee
John Barrasso, Wyoming
Rand Paul, Kentucky
Ted Cruz, Texas
Mike Lee, Utah
Rick Scott, Florida
John Curtis, Utah
John Cornyn, Texas
Senator Shaheen (D-NH) – Ranking
Senator Coons (D-DE)
Senator Murphy (D-CT)
Senator Kaine (D-VA)
Senator Merkley (D-OR)
Senator Booker (D-NJ)
Senator Schatz (D-HI)
Senator Van Hollen (D-MD)
Senator Duckworth (D-IL)
Senator Rosen (D-NV)
Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Bill Cassidy, Louisiana (Chair)
Rand Paul, Kentucky
Susan Collins, Maine
Lisa Murkowski, Alaska
Markwayne Mullin, Oklahoma
Roger Marshall, Kansas
Tommy Tuberville, Alabama
Tim Scott, South Carolina
Josh Hawley, Missouri
Jim Banks, Indiana
Mike Crapo, Idaho
Marsha Blackburn, Tennessee
Senator Sanders (I-VT) – Ranking
Senator Murray (D-WA)
Senator Baldwin (D-WI)
Senator Murphy (D-CT)
Senator Kaine (D-VA)
Senator Hassan (D-NH)
Senator Hickenlooper (D-CO)
Senator Markey (D-MA)
Senator Kim (D-NJ)
Senator Blunt Rochester (D-DE)
Senator Alsobrooks (D-MD)
Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
Rand Paul, Kentucky (Chair)
Ron Johnson, Wisconsin
James Lankford, Oklahoma
Rick Scott, Florida
Josh Hawley, Missouri
Bernie Moreno, Ohio
Joni Ernst, Iowa
Tim Scott, South Carolina
Senator Peters (D-MI)– Ranking
Senator Hassan (D-NH)
Senator Blumenthal (D-CT)
Senator Fetterman (D-PA)
Senator Kim (D-NJ)
Senator Gallego (D-AZ)
Senator Slotkin (D-MI)
Judiciary
Chuck Grassley, Iowa (Chair)
Lindsey Graham, South Carolina
John Cornyn, Texas
Mike Lee, Utah
Ted Cruz, Texas
Josh Hawley, Missouri
Thom Tillis, North Carolina
John Kennedy, Louisiana
Marsha Blackburn, Tennessee
Eric Schmitt, Missouri
Katie Britt, Alabama
Mike Crapo, Idaho
Senator Durbin (D-IL) – Ranking
Senator Whitehouse (D-RI)
Senator Klobuchar (D-MN)
Senator Coons (D-DE)
Senator Blumenthal (D-CT)
Senator Hirono (D-HI)
Senator Booker (D-NJ)
Senator Padilla (D-CA)
Senator Welch (D-VT)
Senator Schiff (D-CA)
Intel
Tom Cotton, Arkansas (Chair)
Jim Risch, Idaho
Susan Collins, Maine
John Cornyn, Texas
Jerry Moran, Kansas
James Lankford, Oklahoma
Mike Rounds, South Dakota
Todd Young, Indiana
Marco Rubio, Florida
Senator Warner (D-VA)– Ranking
Senator Wyden (D-OR)
Senator Heinrich (D-NM)
Senator King (I-ME)
Senator Bennet (D-CO)
Senator Gillibrand (D-NY)
Senator Ossoff (D-GA)
Senator Kelly (D-AZ)
Aging
Rick Scott, Florida (Chair)
Dave McCormick, Pennsylvania
Jim Justice, West Virginia
Tommy Tuberville, Alabama
Ron Johnson, Wisconsin
Mike Crapo, Idaho
Tim Scott, South Carolina
Senator Gillibrand (D-NY) – Ranking
Senator Warren (D-MA)
Senator Kelly (D-AZ)
Senator Warnock (D-GA)
Senator Fetterman (D-PA)
Senator Alsobrooks (D-MD)
Budget
Lindsey Graham, South Carolina (Chair)
Chuck Grassley, Iowa
Mike Crapo, Idaho
Ron Johnson, Wisconsin
Roger Marshall, Kansas
John Cornyn, Texas
Mike Lee, Utah
John Kennedy, Louisiana
Pete Ricketts, Nebraska
Bernie Moreno, Ohio
Rick Scott, Florida
Senator Merkley (D-OR) – Ranking
Senator Murray (D-WA)
Senator Wyden (D-OR)
Senator Sanders (I-VT)
Senator Whitehouse (D-RI)
Senator Warner (D-VA)
Senator Kaine (D-VA)
Senator Van Hollen (D-MD)
Senator Luján (D-NM)
Senator Padilla (D-CA)
Indian Affairs
Lisa Murkowski, Alaska (Chair)
John Hoeven, North Dakota
Steve Daines, Montana
Markwayne Mullin, Oklahoma
Mike Rounds, South Dakota
Jerry Moran, Kansas
Senator Schatz (D-HI) – Ranking
Senator Cantwell (D-WA)
Senator Cortez Masto (D-NV)
Senator Smith (D-MN)
Senator Luján (D-NM)
Joint Economic Committee
Eric Schmitt, Missouri (Vice Chair; no Chair listed)
Tom Cotton, Arkansas
Ted Budd, North Carolina
Dave McCormick, Pennsylvania
Marsha Blackburn, Tennessee
Jerry Moran, Kansas
Senator Hassan (D-NH) – Ranking
Senator Klobuchar (D-MN)
Senator Heinrich (D-NM)
Senator Kelly (D-AZ)
Rules
Mitch McConnell, Kentucky (Chair)
Deb Fischer, Nebraska
Ted Cruz, Texas
Shelley Moore Capito, West Virginia
Roger Wicker, Mississippi
Cindy Hyde-Smith, Mississippi
Bill Hagerty, Tennessee
Katie Britt, Alabama
John Boozman, Arkansas
Senator Padilla (D-CA)– Ranking
Senator Klobuchar (D-MN)
Senator Schumer (D-NY)
Senator Warner (D-VA)
Senator Merkley (D-OR)
Senator Ossoff (D-GA)
Senator Bennet (D-CO)
Senator Welch (D-VT)
Small Business
Joni Ernst, Iowa (Chair)
Jim Risch, Idaho
Rand Paul, Kentucky
Tim Scott, South Carolina
Todd Young, Indiana
Josh Hawley, Missouri
Ted Budd, North Carolina
John Curtis, Utah
Jim Justice, West Virginia
Marsha Blackburn, Tennessee
Senator Markey (D-MA) - Ranking
Senator Cantwell (D-WA)
Senator Shaheen (D-NH)
Senator Booker (D-NJ)
Senator Coons (D-DE)
Senator Hirono (D-HI)
Senator Rosen (D-NV)
Senator Hickenlooper (D-CO)
Senator Schiff (D-CA)
Veterans Affairs
Jerry Moran, Kansas (Chair)
John Boozman, Arkansas
Bill Cassidy, Louisiana
Thom Tillis, North Carolina
Dan Sullivan, Alaska
Marsha Blackburn, Tennessee
Kevin Cramer, North Dakota
Tommy Tuberville, Alabama
Jim Banks, Indiana
Tim Sheehy, Montana
Senator Blumenthal (D-CT) – Ranking
Senator Murray (D-WA)
Senator Sanders (I-VT)
Senator Hirono (D-HI)
Senator Hassan (D-NH)
Senator King (I-ME)
Senator Duckworth (D-IL)
Senator Gallego (D-AZ)
Senator Slotkin (D-MI)
Ethics
James Lankford, Oklahoma (Chair)
Jim Risch, Idaho
Deb Fischer, Nebraska
Senator Coons (D-DE) – Ranking
Senator Schatz (D-HI)
Senator Shaheen (D-NH)
Source: SUPRA