Look Ahead to the Week of December 4: Ukraine Aid Running Out
Both the House and Senate will be back in session this week.
Lawmakers are still working on coming to an agreement on President Joe Biden’s national security supplemental funding plan, which would provide additional aid to Ukraine and Israel. However, House Republicans have repeatedly signaled that any additional funding would require significant changes to the security of the U.S. southern border, including restricting the entry of asylum seekers. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) will continue to struggle to balance the demands of the right-wing Freedom Caucus of his party while also appealing to more moderate members who face tough reelections next year in competitive districts. Additionally, White House officials have warned Congress that resources being used to aid Ukraine will run out by the end of the year as Senate negotiators struggle to come to a compromise on the supplemental plan.
In the coming weeks, Congress is scheduled to unveil the House-Senate compromise defense authorization bill, known as the National Defense Authorization Act, which establishes funding levels for all defense programs. It has been reported that the compromise legislation will not include House-passed restrictions on abortion care, which will likely frustrate members of the Freedom Caucus.
Lawmakers will also attempt to reauthorize Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. Although the bill is usually passed in a bipartisan fashion, lawmakers are at odds over a provision that allows surveillance of U.S. citizens with connections to foreign persons. It is set to expire at the end of the year.
The Administration
On Monday, the White House will host lawmakers for its annual congressional ball. On Wednesday, President Biden will address the second annual White House Tribal Nations Summit. He also has campaign events scheduled throughout the week in Boston, Las Vegas, and Los Angeles.
House Side
On Tuesday, the House will meet to consider multiple bills under suspension.
- Bills expected under suspension of the rules.
- R. 1547 – One Seat Ride Act, as amended (Rep. Kean – Transportation and Infrastructure). The bill would require the Transportation Department to submit a study to Congress on the costs and benefits of commuter rail passenger transportation that doesn’t involve transfers.
- 992 – I-27 Numbering Act of 2023, as amended (Sen. Cruz – Transportation and Infrastructure). The bill would designate portions of highway in the Ports-to-Plains Corridor in Texas and New Mexico as Interstate Route 27.
- R. 4688 – To direct the administrator of the General Services Administration to sell the property known as the Webster School (Rep. Norton – Transportation and Infrastructure). The bill would require the General Services Administration to sell the long-vacant Daniel Webster School in Washington, D.C., by December 31, 2025, at fair market value, with proceeds going to the Federal Buildings Fund.
- Senate Amendment to R. 1734 – TRANQ Research Act of 2023, as amended (Rep. Collins – Science, Space, and Technology). The measure would require the National Institute of Standards and Technology to conduct research on substances containing xylazine, novel synthetic opioids, or other new psychoactive substances.
- R. 1713 – DOE and USDA Interagency Research Act, as amended (Rep. Lucas – Science, Space, and Technology). The measure would direct the Energy (DOE) and Agriculture departments to collaborate on research and development (R&D) in a wide range of areas, including artificial intelligence, advanced crop science, grid modernization, and wildfire prevention.
- R. 2980 – DOE and NSF Interagency Research Act, as amended (Rep. Stevens – Science, Space, and Technology). The legislation would direct the DOE and National Science Foundation to collaborate on R&D in a wide range of areas, including artificial intelligence, machine learning, quantum computing, advanced manufacturing technologies, and microelectronics.
- R. 2988 – DOE and NASA Interagency Research Coordination Act, as amended (Rep. Brandon Williams – Science, Space, and Technology). The legislation would direct the DOE and NASA to collaborate on R&D in a wide range of areas, including propulsion systems, quantum information sciences, and the transmission of space-based solar energy.
- R. 3848 – HOME Act of 2023, as amended (Rep. Chavez-DeRemer – Veterans' Affairs). The measure would increase the maximum rates the Veterans Affairs Department pays entities that provide housing and services to veterans experiencing homelessness.
- R. 542 – Elizabeth Dole Home Care Act of 2023, as amended (Rep. Brownley – Veterans' Affairs). The bill would require the Veterans Affairs Department to expand options for long-term home and community services for eligible veterans.
- R. 3581 – COPE Act, as amended (Rep. Kiggans – Veterans' Affairs). The bill would permit entities to receive grants from the Veterans Affairs Department to provide mental health services to family caregivers.
- Res. 894 – The resolution would strongly condemn and denounce the drastic rise of antisemitism in the United States and around the world (Rep. Kustoff – Judiciary).
Wednesday – Thursday, the House is scheduled to meet for legislative business.
- Bills expected under a rule.
- R. 4468 – Choice in Automobile Retail Sales Act of 2023 (Rep. Walberg – Energy and Commerce). The legislation would prevent the Environmental Protection Agency from finalizing its proposed rule establishing new emissions standards on light- and medium-duty vehicles.
- R. 5933 – DETERRENT Act (Rep. Steel – Education and the Workforce). The legislation would impose increased disclosure requirements on higher-education institutions that are federally funded and receive gifts or enter into contracts with foreign entities.
- J. Res. 88 – Providing for congressional disapproval under Chapter 8 of Title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of Education relating to Improving Income Driven Repayment for the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program and the Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program (Rep. McClain – Education and the Workforce).
Senate Side
On Monday, the Senate will vote on the nomination of Irma Carrillo Ramirez to be a judge for the Fifth Circuit. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) has also filed cloture on the nominations of Loren AliKhan to be a district judge for the District of Columbia and Elizabeth Richard to be counterterrorism coordinator at the State Department.