Election Looms Large Over Congressional Priorities.

The article focuses on the legislative challenges and developments in the final quarter of the 118th Congress, highlighting stalled progress on major bills related to health, agriculture, tax policy, and Fiscal Year 2025 funding due to hyper-partisanship and the upcoming 2024 election. A key example is the Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act, a bipartisan proposal to improve the Child Tax Credit (CTC), which passed the House but remains stalled in the Senate amid election-year politics. Additionally, significant attention continues on child welfare legislation, with multiple hearings and bills addressing Title IV-B and IV-E programs aimed at supporting foster care, Tribal families, and child mental health. Despite political difficulties, there remains bipartisan interest in advancing child welfare reforms during this Congress.