Look Ahead to the Week of February 26: A Partial Government Shutdown Looms on Friday
Both the Senate and House return this week, and once again Congress finds itself on the cusp of a partial government shutdown.
Over the weekend, key congressional negotiators failed to reach an agreement on any of the 12 fiscal year funding bills, heightening the chances of a shutdown. For months, Congress has been operating under a temporary, “laddered” government funding measure, which is set to partially expire on March 1 with the remainder of appropriations expiring on March 8.
On Tuesday, President Biden will meet at the White House with House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) in an effort to reach an agreement on a fiscal spending package. In addition, they will discuss a pending foreign aid package, though Republicans continue to assert that their support for an aid bill is contingent upon enacting strict border security policies.
The Senate may also begin its trial of Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas, who was impeached by the House on its second attempt earlier in February. Schumer is planning to spend as little time as possible considering the impeachment because the upper chamber cannot conduct any legislative business while they are in trial. This is increasingly perilous given that a government shutdown is just five days away.
The House will also consider legislation this week to extend the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) authorities to May 10, giving lawmakers more time to reconcile the different bills passed by the House and approved by the Senate Commerce Committee. The current FAA authorization runs through March 8.
Administration
On Friday, Biden will host Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni at the White House for a bilateral meeting.
House Side
On Wednesday, the House will meet to consider multiple bills under suspension.
- Bills expected under suspension of the rules.
- H.R. 3511 – Service-Disabled Veteran Opportunities in Small Business Act (Rep. LaLota – Small Business). The legislation would require the Small Business Administration (SBA) to provide training and guidance to federal agencies on how to increase the number of contracts awarded to service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses.
- H.R. 4669– DOE and SBA Research Act, as amended (Rep. LaLota – Small Business). The legislation would require the Energy Department and the SBA to enter into a memorandum of understanding to carry out research and development activities to advance shared priorities.
- H.R. 5265 – SBA Rural Performance Report Act, as amended (Rep. Alford – Small Business). The bill would require the SBA to submit a report to Congress on its Office of Rural Affairs activities, including details of outreach events and partnerships.
- H.R. 6591 – Encouraging Success Act, as amended (Rep. Ellzey – Small Business). The bill would require the SBA to regularly reassess, and revise if appropriate, the maximum financial thresholds for an individual to qualify as economically disadvantaged.
- H.R. 5426 – To require the administrator of the Small Business Administration to provide a link to resources for submitting reports on suspected fraud relating to certain COVID-19 loans (Rep. Van Duyne – Small Business).
- H.R. 7128 – The WOSB Integrity Act of 2024 (Rep. Maloy – Small Business). The measure would require the SBA and third-party SBA certifiers to ensure that applicants comply with the SBA’s size standards when applying for the Women-Owned Small Business program.
- H.R. 7105 – WOSB Certification and Opportunity Expansion Act, as amended (Rep. Velazquez – Small Business). The measure would require the SBA to certify that women-owned small businesses’ eligibility would count toward federal procurement goals.
- H.R. 7102 – Native American Entrepreneurial Opportunity Act (Rep. Davids – Small Business). The legislation would codify the SBA’s Office of Native American Affairs and provide authority to provide grants, training, and other assistance to Native American-owned small businesses.
- H.R. 6544 – Atomic Energy Advancement Act, as amended (Rep. Duncan – Energy and Commerce). The legislation would require the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to provide timely reviews of any license or construction permit related to nuclear energy projects and reduce fees for advanced nuclear reactor application reviews.
- H.R. 6585 – The Bipartisan Workforce Pell Act, as amended (Rep. Stefanik – Education and Workforce). The legislation would expand federal Pell Grant eligibility to students enrolled in short-term job training programs of 150 to 600 hours of instruction offered during eight to 15 weeks.
- H.R. 4984 – D.C. Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium Campus Revitalization Act, as amended (Rep. Comer – Oversight and Accountability). The measure would permit Washington, D.C., to enter into a lease of at least 99 years with the federal government to redevelop the abandoned Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium.
- H.R. __ – Airport and Airway Extension Act of 2024 (Rep. Sam Graves – Transportation and Infrastructure). The measure would extend the FAA’s authorities to May 10.
Senate Side
On Monday, the Senate will resume consideration of Jacqueline Becerra’s and David Leibowitz’s judicial nominations for the Southern District of Florida. Schumer has also teed up votes on Hampton Dellinger’s nomination to head the U.S. Office of Special Counsel.
On Tuesday, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee is set to once again consider Julie Su's nomination to lead the Labor Department.