Both the House and Senate are in session today with less than two weeks to go before the August recess. The Senate is expected to reconvene at 3:00 P.M. and will take up the nomination of Rachel Bloomekatz to be United States Circuit Judge for the Sixth Circuit and the will then move on to a Motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to S. 2226 – National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2024. The must pass bill faces its first hurdle with this procedural vote tonight that requires a 60-vote majority. Once and if the legislation clears that bar, Senate leaders will aim to piece together a package of bipartisan, uncontroversial amendments while Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-New York) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) attempt to strike a deal for votes on more contentious proposals. The most conservative proposals tacked onto last week’s House-passed NDAA bill are almost certain to be rejected in the Democratic-led Senate. Still, the Senate has been roiled by its own fight over the Pentagon’s policies to allow leave and reimburse travel costs for troops who cross state lines to seek abortions while Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Alabama) is holding up hundreds of senior military promotions in a bid to reverse the policy. There is no end in sight to the monthslong impasse.
The House met at 12:00 P.M. for legislative business and is expected to consider a number of resolutions from the most conservative Members relating to national emergencies declared by Presidents in 2003, 2004, 2006, 2011, 2012. H.J. Res. 68 – Relating to a national emergency declared by the President on October 27, 2006, H.J. Res. 70 – Relating to a national emergency declared by the President on February 25, 2011, H.J. Res. 74 – Relating to a national emergency declared by the President on May 16, 2012, H.J. Res. 71 – Relating to a national emergency declared by the President on May 22, 2003 and H.J. Res. 79 – Relating to a national emergency declared by the President on May 11, 2004.
The House is also expected to take up under suspension of the Rules H. Con. Res. 57 – Expressing the sense of Congress supporting the State of Israel and potentially begin work on H.R. 3941 – Schools Not Shelters Act.
