Congressional leaders and the White House announced a budget deal at the end of July to raise federal spending limits for fiscal years 2020 and 2021 and outlined an informal agreement to avoid partisan policy riders, clearing a path for action on fiscal 2020 appropriations this fall. The Senate passed the budget bill by a vote of 67-28 after the House passed the same measure by a vote of 284-149. The two-year budget deal sets top-line spending levels, but Congress still needs to approve a package of 12 appropriations bills, or pass a temporary funding extension, to avoid a government shutdown when current funding expires at the end of this month.

Lockridge Grindal Nauen will be co-hosting a CLE session on the topic of labor trafficking alongside The Advocates for Human Rights on Friday September 6th from 9:00-10:30am at our offices in Minneapolis.

Congratulations to LGN partners Richard Lockridge, Charlie Nauen, Susan Ellingstad, Yvonne Flaherty, and Karen Hanson Riebel for being named by Best Lawyers to their 2020 Best Lawyers in America list. They were recognized for their work in the following areas:

LGN’s Federal Relations Group is closely monitoring the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) proposed rule change that was released by the Department of Agriculture (USDA) on July 24^th, 2019. This proposed rule entitled “Revision of Categorical Eligibility in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP),” would eliminate “broad-based categorical eligibility,” a voluntary standard that states can use to automatically qualify recipients of non-cash welfare assistance for SNAP benefits. Once enacted, this proposed rule would have significant direct impacts on state and local governments, families and children.