The House returns today and will be in session at the same time as the Senate for the first time since the end of July. Both chambers return to big spending fights and a looming deadline to prevent a government shutdown at the end of the month. While government funding technically expires on September 30th, the House has just 11 working days to pass a short-term funding extension – called a continuing resolution – to buy lawmakers more time to hash out the details of a spending package. The Senate already returned from its recess last week, and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, (D-New York), has praised his colleagues from both sides of the aisle for working together on spending compromises without much heartburn.
The Senate this week is scheduled to consider measures funding veterans, agriculture and housing programs — the first time in years that spending bills have been considered separately on the floor as the chamber deviated from the traditional appropriations process. Votes on proposals to change the legislation are anticipated, but Senate leaders hope to win quick approval, providing leverage over the House should embattled Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-California) be unable to push any spending bills over the finish line. The House is planning this week to take up just one spending bill covering the Pentagon. A group of ultra-right lawmakers from the House Freedom Caucus have drawn hard lines even before the House came back into session, openly threatening to leverage a shutdown if a continuing resolution does not include deep spending cuts or other demands, such as more security on the southern border and opening an impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden. Adding to the funding mess is the White House’s $40 billion supplemental request, which was unveiled last month and includes $24 billion for Ukraine, sparking another controversy. Senate leaders from both parties want to pass the full supplemental, which also includes disaster funding. But many House Republicans in the right flank are vehemently opposed to any more funding for Ukraine and in some cases increased disaster aid.
For today, the Senate convened at 10:00 A.M. and is expected to consider the nomination of Tanya J. Bradsher to be Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs as well as the nomination of Jeffrey Irvine Cummings to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of Illinois. The Senate is also expected to take up the Motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to Calendar #198, H.R.4366, an act making appropriations for military construction, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024.
The House will meet at noon for morning hour and 2:00 P.M. for legislative business with first and last votes expected at 6:30 P.M. The House is expected to consider seven bills under suspension of the Rules out of the Foreign Affairs and Natural Resources Committees, including H.R. 3152 – Fight CRIME Act, as amended.
