Laurie, federal legislative representative with Holland & Knight, told Aurora's FSIR committee that Congress was quickly organizing in January and that the city should expect a compressed appropriations calendar.

“We are continuing to operate under a continuing resolution until March 14,” Laurie said. “Congress is soon going to begin working on an omnibus appropriations bill that we should be able to get done before March 14th.”

Laurie summarized items likely to affect Aurora: confirmation hearings for cabinet nominees (Transportation, HUD, Interior, EPA, USDA), an expected reconciliation package addressing tax and energy priorities, and a recently passed House bill (referred to in the briefing by its popular name) that would require DHS to detain certain migrants charged with or convicted of theft-related crimes. Laurie said transportation and infrastructure funding — including Bipartisan Infrastructure Law programs Aurora currently uses — is not expected to be used as a pay-for in the early reconciliation negotiations.

Laurie also reviewed the city's planned federal lobbying trip, likely the first week of April, and said staff will schedule meetings with HUD and other agencies to press the city's priorities: housing and homelessness funding flexibility, infrastructure funding and regulatory streamlining, water affordability, and public-safety grants for technology and staffing. Committee members asked about timing and were told the trip itinerary and meeting requests would be circulated to members soon.

Ending: Committee members approved moving the federal priorities forward to the study-session process; staff will finalize meeting requests and follow up with members who plan to join the April lobby trip.