President Joe Biden signed legislation Friday to continue funding the government into mid-December, averting a partial shutdown hours before a midnight deadline. The continuing resolution (CR) extends current funding levels until December 16th, while also approving $12.4 billion in military and diplomatic spending to help Ukraine in its war against Russia. It also contains $18.8 billion for domestic disaster recovery efforts, including Western wildfires, floods in Kentucky and hurricanes in the Southeast. All House Democrats and 10 Republicans voted to send the bill to President Biden’s desk Friday afternoon, 230 to 201. The Senate passed the bill, 72 to 25, on Thursday after Senator Joe Manchin (D-West Virginia) dropped his proposal that would have overhauled federal rules for environmental permitting for large energy projects after it became evident it would not garner close to the 60 votes required to attach it to the must-pass legislation.
The Senate has adjourned until after the November 8th midterm elections, but will be in session only on October 11th and for short pro forma sessions. The Senate will hold pro forma sessions on Tuesday, October 4th at 10:00 a.m.; and Friday, October 7th at 10:00 a.m. and will next convene at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, October 11th when the Senate will proceed to the consideration of Calendar #467, H.R.7900, National Defense Authorization Act. Following the remarks of Senator Jack Reed (D-Rhode Island) or his designee, the Senate will stand adjourned to then convene for pro forma sessions only, with no business being conducted on the following dates and times:
Friday, October 14th at 11:30 a.m.; Tuesday, October 18th at 11:30 a.m.; Thursday, October 20th, at 9:00 a.m.; Monday, October 24th at 1:45 p.m.; Thursday, October 27th at 12:00 noon; Monday, October 31st at 10:00 a.m.; Thursday, November 3rd at 10:30 a.m.; Monday, November 7th at 10:30 a.m. and Thursday, November 10th at 12:00 noon. The Senate will then next convene at 3:00 p.m. on Monday, November 14th.
The House is also in recess and will reconvene on Monday, November 14th.
