Both the House and Senate will be in session for another two weeks, continuing to work on a long to-do list before the adjournment of the 118th Congress.
Over the weekend, an agreement was reached on the annual defense authorization package. The House will focus this week on passing the bill, which has been enacted with bipartisan support for the past 60 years. The $883.7 billion spending authorization in the legislation is within the funding caps in last year’s debt-limit deal and will provide a 14.5% pay raise for junior enlisted troops and a 4.5% raise for the rest of the military. Further, the measure maintains the Pentagon’s policy allowing troops to travel to obtain an abortion but restricts gender-affirming care for troops and their children. Key Democrats are already calling on House leaders to strike the provision, which could complicate passage of the bill.
With government funding set to expire on December 20, congressional leaders continue to negotiate a short-term stopgap spending bill that will likely extend funding until March 2025. This effort may complicate how quickly the GOP-controlled 119th Congress can turn to pursuing its legislative priorities through the reconciliation process in early 2025. Following a series of devastating hurricanes, it is expected that the measure will include funding for disaster relief efforts. The Biden Administration recently requested approximately $100 billion in aid.
Separately, it remains unclear at this time how Congress will move forward with a short-term extension of the Farm Bill after Republicans opposed the five-year proposal from Democrats earlier this month. Key food and farm programs will begin expiring at the beginning of 2025, and a one-year extension has been rumored.
Reps. Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Andy Kim (D-NJ) will join the Senate today. Both won full terms in November that are set to begin in January but will get a jump start by replacing departing Senate appointees Laphonza Butler (D-CA) and George Helmy (D-NJ), respectively.
The Senate will also work to confirm Democrat-nominated judges, while Republicans will meet with President-elect Donald Trump’s intended nominees for his new Administration. The fall of the Assad regime will prompt additional foreign policy discussion among policy makers.
Incoming Administration
Trump continues working to assemble his cabinet, announcing nominations at a historically rapid pace. This week, several of Trump’s nominees, including former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI), nominated to be Director of National Intelligence, and Pete Hegseth, nominated to be Secretary of Defense, will be on Capitol Hill to meet with key Senators.
House Votes
On Monday, the House will meet to consider multiple bills under suspension.
- Bills expected under suspension of the rules.
- S. 1478– A bill to designate United States Route 20 in the States of Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, and Massachusetts as the “National Medal of Honor Highway,” and for other purposes. (Sponsored by Sen. Wyden / Transportation and Infrastructure Committee)
- S. 3475– Strengthening the Commercial Driver’s License Information System Act (Sponsored by Sen. Peters / Transportation and Infrastructure Committee)
- S. 4367– Thomas R. Carper Water Resources Development Act of 2024, as amended (Sponsored by Sen. Carper / Transportation and Infrastructure Committee)
- S. 50– Pensacola and Perdido Bays Estuary of National Significance Act of 2024 (Sponsored by Sen. Rubio / Transportation and Infrastructure Committee)
- S. 3613– Improving Federal Building Security Act of 2024 (Sponsored by Sen. Peters / Transportation and Infrastructure Committee)
- S. 310– Disaster Contract Improvement Act (Sponsored by Sen. Rick Scott / Homeland Security Committee)
- R. 2892– WARN Act, as amended (Sponsored by Rep. Langworthy / Transportation and Infrastructure Committee)
- R. 2672– FEMA Loan Interest Payment Relief Act, as amended (Sponsored by Rep. Dunn / Transportation and Infrastructure Committee)
- R. 7671– Disaster Management Costs Modernization Act (Sponsored by Rep. Neguse / Transportation and Infrastructure Committee)
- R. 9541– POWER Act of 2024 (Sponsored by Rep. Hoyle / Transportation and Infrastructure Committee)
- R. 8692– Amtrak Transparency and Accountability for Passengers and Taxpayers Act, as amended (Sponsored by Rep. Nehls / Transportation and Infrastructure Committee)
- R. 8689– Amtrak Executive Bonus Disclosure Act, as amended (Sponsored by Rep. Molinaro / Transportation and Infrastructure Committee)
- Bills expected under a rule.
- R. 7673– Liberty in Laundry Act (Sponsored by Rep. Ogles / Energy and Commerce Committee). The bill would impose stricter standards on the Energy Department when issuing or enforcing energy efficiency standards for washing machines.
- S. 4199– JUDGES Act of 2024 (Sponsored by Sen. Young / Judiciary Committee). The measure would add 63 permanent and three temporary judges to district courts.
- Bills expected under suspension of the rules.
- R. 9769– Strengthening Cyber Resilience Against State-Sponsored Threats Act (Sponsored by Rep. Laurel Lee / Homeland Security Committee)
- R. 9689– DHS Cybersecurity Internship Program Act (Sponsored by Rep. Yvette Clarke / Homeland Security Committee)
- R. 6229– DHS Special Events Program and Support Act (Sponsored by Rep. Titus / Homeland Security Committee)
- R. 7365– VETS Safe Travel Act, as amended (Sponsored by Rep. Gosar / Homeland Security Committee)
- R. 9668– SHIELD Against CCP Act, as amended (Sponsored by Rep. Strong / Homeland Security Committee)
- S. 2781– Good Samaritan Remediation of Abandoned Hardrock Mines Act of 2024 (Sponsored by Sen. Heinrich / Transportation and Infrastructure Committee)
- R. 8753– To direct the U. S. Postal Service to designate single, unique ZIP Codes for certain communities, and for other purposes, as amended (Sponsored by Rep. Boebert / Oversight and Accountability Committee)
- R. 9716– Increasing Baseline Updates Act (Sponsored by Rep. Moore (UT) / Budget Committee)
Senate Votes
On Monday, the Senate will begin consideration on the nominations of Tiffany Rene Johnson to the Northern District of Georgia. Confirmation votes are also pending for Keli Marie Neary for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, Cynthia Valenzuela Dixon for the Central District of California, and Noel Wise for the Northern District of California.