House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-California) said Wednesday that he is optimistic that congressional negotiators could reach a deal to raise or suspend the debt ceiling in time to hold a House vote on it next week. Negotiators are aiming to hammer out an agreement before President Joe Biden’s scheduled return to Washington on Sunday from the G7 Summit in Japan. Congress would then have to act swiftly before the June 1st deadline when the government could run out of money hits. McCarthy said the House would vote first on any deal before sending it on the Senate, which Democrats control by a 51-49 margin, for approval. Senate rules would require at least nine Republicans to go along with any deal. Negotiations are continuing over the longevity of any deal, work requirements for aid programs for the poor, including food subsidies, and spending caps. The work requirement discussions focuses on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), previously known as food stamps, and the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program. Biden has previously said that he would not be open to discussions of work requirements for the Medicaid health insurance program for low-income Americans.
As negotiations continue, today, the Senate will complete work on the nomination of Nancy G. Abudu to be United States Circuit Judge for the Eleventh Circuit. The Senate may recess for the Memorial Day break as soon as today, and while they are not scheduled to return until Tuesday, May 30th, the chamber will likely have to come back to vote on the debt ceiling.
The House will wrap up work for the week today by completing consideration of H. Con. Res. 40 – Expressing support for local law enforcement officers and condemning efforts to defund or dismantle local law enforcement agencies.
