Both the House and Senate are in session this week as the 119th Congress kicks into gear, after formally being sworn in on Friday, January 3.
Over the weekend, Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) announced his intent for the House to vote before Memorial Day on a single legislative reconciliation package that includes many of President-elect Donald Trump’s major priorities, such as border security, energy, an extension of the 2017 Trump tax cuts, raising or eliminating the federal debt ceiling, and reducing federal regulations. Having just one bill would allow Republicans to pass the legislation in the Senate with a simple majority, without needing Democratic votes.
However, some Republicans have already expressed concerns with the revised reconciliation proposal, including Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC), who has publicly stated that Republicans should focus on passing a standalone border security bill through reconciliation before turning to other legislative priorities. Additionally, House Republicans only have a four-seat majority, which could complicate efforts to build unification on certain policies within any comprehensive package. This dynamic will certainly continue to dominate strategy discussion in the coming weeks on Capitol Hill.
The House and Senate will meet in a joint session on Monday for the counting of electoral votes. Vice President Kamala Harris will preside over the process and formally announce that Trump won the presidency.
Additionally, the House will consider legislation that would require the Department of Homeland Security to detain people who are in the country illegally and charged with or arrested for theft and a bill aimed at preventing the International Criminal Court from arresting people from the United States and its allies, including Israel, that don’t participate in the court.
We will also see Senate committees begin announcing hearings for the new Administration’s nominees, with the first hearings expected next week.
Finally, former President Jimmy Carter will lie in state at the U.S. Capitol this week, after passing away at the age of 100.
Over the weekend, Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) announced his intent for the House to vote before Memorial Day on a single legislative reconciliation package that includes many of President-elect Donald Trump’s major priorities, such as border security, energy, an extension of the 2017 Trump tax cuts, raising or eliminating the federal debt ceiling, and reducing federal regulations. Having just one bill would allow Republicans to pass the legislation in the Senate with a simple majority, without needing Democratic votes.
However, some Republicans have already expressed concerns with the revised reconciliation proposal, including Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC), who has publicly stated that Republicans should focus on passing a standalone border security bill through reconciliation before turning to other legislative priorities. Additionally, House Republicans only have a four-seat majority, which could complicate efforts to build unification on certain policies within any comprehensive package. This dynamic will certainly continue to dominate strategy discussion in the coming weeks on Capitol Hill.
The House and Senate will meet in a joint session on Monday for the counting of electoral votes. Vice President Kamala Harris will preside over the process and formally announce that Trump won the presidency.
Additionally, the House will consider legislation that would require the Department of Homeland Security to detain people who are in the country illegally and charged with or arrested for theft and a bill aimed at preventing the International Criminal Court from arresting people from the United States and its allies, including Israel, that don’t participate in the court.
We will also see Senate committees begin announcing hearings for the new Administration’s nominees, with the first hearings expected next week.
Finally, former President Jimmy Carter will lie in state at the U.S. Capitol this week, after passing away at the age of 100.