On March 23, 2024, the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives passed a $1.2 trillion package of six appropriations bills to fund remaining key federal agencies, including the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), and the U.S. Department of State (DOS) through the end of the fiscal year on September 30, 2024.1 The bill, H.R. 2882, was signed into law by President Joe Biden on the same day.2 The U.S. federal government is now fully funded for the remainder of the current fiscal year.
WHY THIS MATTERS
All U.S. immigration-related programs under the DHS, DOL, and DOS are funded until the end of the current fiscal year, September 30, 2024. Had the legislation not passed, the funding was set to expire on March 22, 2024.3
A shutdown would have had a significant impact on U.S. immigration. The following would have resulted: suspension of all DOL immigration related processes (Labor Condition Applications, Prevailing Wage Requests, Application for Permanent Labor Certification, and FLAG system); adverse impact on U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) petitions that require DOL Labor Condition Applications or Certification; reduced visa stamping and adjudication opportunities at U.S. Consulates under the DOL; limited availability of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) services under the DHS; and adjournment of the E-Verify system to confirm employment eligibility for the DOL.4
Summary of the FY2024 Appropriations Process
On March 8, 2024, the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives passed an initial $460 billion package of six appropriations bills to partially fund the U.S. federal government until September 30, 2024.5
To avoid a shutdown of the 70 percent of U.S. government agencies and programs that were only funded until March 22, 2024, Congress reached an agreement on funding for a second appropriations bundle as the deadline loomed on March 22. The Senate passed the final $1.2 trillion package in the early hours of March 23,6 after the White House sent out a notice following the deadline with an extension. Other federal agencies and programs that received funding include military, health, and education.
KPMG INSIGHTS
The full funding of the U.S. federal government is welcome news. The FY2024 appropriations process was long and contentious with many hurdles and obstacles, actual and potential, which put at risk the efficient conduct of U.S. immigration policy and processes.
KPMG Law LLP in Canada will endeavor to keep readers of GMS Flash Alert informed of important developments as they occur.
FOOTNOTES
1 See “H.R. 2882: Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024” on the govtrack.us website. Please note that by clicking on this link, you are leaving the KPMG website for an external (non-governmental, non-KPMG) site, that KPMG is not affiliated with nor does KPMG endorse its content. Use of the external site and its content may be subject to the terms of use and/or privacy policies of its owner or operator.
For text of H.R. 4366, see the Congress.gov website by clicking here.
2 See The White House, “Press Release: Bill Signed: H.R. 2882” (March 23, 2024).
3 See The White House, “Press Release: Bill Signed: H.R. 7463” (March 1, 2024).
4 See GMS Flash Alert 2024-055, 13 March 2024.
5 See The White House, “Press Release: Bill Signed: H.R. 4366” (March 9, 2024).
6 See the U.S. Senate webpage for “Roll Call Votes” for March 23, 2024 at: U.S. Senate: Roll Call Votes 118th Congress - 2nd Session (2024).
* Please note the KPMG International member firm in the United States does not provide immigration or labour law services. However, KPMG Law LLP in Canada can assist clients with U.S. immigration matters.
The information contained in this newsletter was submitted by the KPMG International member firm in Canada.
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