Work continues on the delayed continuing resolution (CR) in the Senate. The delay stems from Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer’s (D-New York) decision to include West Virginia Democrat Joe Manchin’s permitting reform proposal in the continuing resolution which will keep the government open until mid-December. The Manchin proposal has yet to be released, but Republicans are already indicating their opposition and are instead backing an alternative proposed by West Virginia Republican Shelley Moore Capito. Manchin told reporters that the text of his proposal would likely be released on Wednesday, and that it would explicitly speed up the approval process for the Mountain Valley Pipeline and also said he needs at least 20 Senate Republicans to back his plan, which is also coming under fire from House and Senate Democrats. Democratic Senators Ed Markey (D-Massachusetts) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) have already come out in strong opposition. At least 80 House Democrats have also come out in opposition to the plan saying it would result in more gas and oil drilling, which they oppose. Under current circumstances, Schumer, doesn’t have the 60 votes necessary to pass a CR that includes Manchin’s proposal. And, even if it were to clear the Senate, it appears the House lacks the necessary 218 votes for passage. Republican senators, however, signaled tentative support for additional Ukraine aid that the Biden administration has requested following a classified briefing on Monday night, though senators are expected to nix other top White House priorities from the upcoming stop-gap bill. The Biden administration has asked for $12 billion in aid to Ukraine and Republicans are signaling they won’t include money for Covid-19 relief, monkeypox vaccines or disaster recovery – all money that the White House has pushed for.
For today, The Senate reconvened at 10:00 A.M. and is expected to vote on confirmation of Florence Y. Pan to be United States Circuit Judge for the District of Columbia Circuit as well as the Motion to invoke cloture on the Resolution of ratification with respect to the Treaty document 117-1 Amendment to Montreal Protocol.
The House convened at 12:00 P.M. and is expected to begin work on S. 1098 – Joint Consolidation Loan Separation Act which would allow borrowers to sever spousal student loans, potentially making hundreds of additional Americans eligible for loan forgiveness. The House is also expected to consider twelve bills under suspension of the Rules.
