Both the House and Senate are in session this week.
On Friday, the Senate introduced its own budget resolution, which establishes a path for reconciliation that permits the upper chamber to sidestep its 60-vote requirement and pass legislation with only Republican votes. As of now, Senate Republicans are hoping to pass two separate reconciliations packages: a fully offset border security and energy bill and then a tax bill.
Late last week, the Senate Republicans put forward its own budget resolution after delays from House Republicans. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) had hoped to begin the reconciliation process last week, but intraparty disagreements stalled progress. Johnson is working again to introduce a House budget resolution this week. House Republicans intend to pass a single reconciliation package that encompasses all their priorities.
Meanwhile, federal government funding expires on March 14. Congressional leaders and appropriators have still not come to an agreement on top-line spending numbers, further delaying negotiations. It has been reported that discussions are not going well, which raises the specter of another continuing resolution or a potential government shutdown in March.
The House also has votes planned this week on legislation that would impose new criminal penalties on drivers who evade border patrol officers (H.R. 35) and a measure that would permit Congress to block multiple federal rules issued during a President’s final year in office through a single process (H.R. 77).
The Senate will continue confirming President Trump’s cabinet nominations this week, with a floor vote scheduled Monday to proceed to the nomination of Tulsi Gabbard as Director of National Intelligence. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) has also scheduled procedural votes on Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to head HHS, Howard Lutnick to lead the Commerce Department, Brooke Rollins to lead USDA, and Kelly Loeffler to head the SBA.
Other Trump cabinet nominees will be considered in the committee process this week:
