The House is expected to vote late this afternoon to fund the government through December 20th, setting up a potential pre-holiday funding showdown. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-New York) announced the Senate will also vote on the continuing resolution (TEXT) (SECTION BY SECTION) this afternoon and said he will not entertain any amendments that could delay the process. Leader Schumer received unanimous consent for the Senate to immediately proceed to the three-month government funding bill once it passes the House.
The Senate will first vote midday on a budget resolution sponsored by Senator Rand Paul (R-Kentucky) that would cut 6 cents for every dollar spent over the next five years, which would in theory balance the budget after five years. Senator Paul said earlier in the week that he would not insist on amendments to the stopgap funding measure, given the rapidly approaching deadline to fund the government.
For today, the Senate convened at 10:00 A.M. and will take up the motion to proceed to S.Con.Res.41, a concurrent resolution setting forth the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2025 and setting forth the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2026 through 2034. The Senate is also expected to take up the motion to invoke cloture on the nomination of Byron B. Conway to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Wisconsin followed by a vote on confirmation of the Conway nomination.
When the Senate receives the continuing resolution, H.R.9747, from the House, the Senate will proceed to its immediate consideration, there will be up to two hours of debate, equally divided, with no amendments or motions in order to the bill; and upon use or yielding back of time, the bill be considered read a third time and the Senate will vote on passage of the bill, with 60-affirmative votes required for passage.
The House also convened at 10:00 A.M. and will consider the following legislation pursuant to a Rule: H.R. 3334 – STOP CCP Act, H.R. 8205 – Keeping Violent Offenders Off Our Streets Act and H. Res. 1469 – Ensuring accountability for key officials in the Biden-Harris administration responsible for decision making and execution failures throughout the withdrawal from Afghanistan.
The House will also consider six bills under suspension of the Rules including H.R. 9747 – Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025.