Both the House and Senate are in session this week.
Last week, the Senate took its first step to unlock the budget reconciliation process by adopting its budget resolution on a 52-48 vote. Senate Republicans are preparing to pass two separate reconciliations packages: a fully offset border security, defense, and energy bill first and then a tax bill later in the year.
On the other side of the Capitol, the House intends to vote this week on its own budget resolution that would combine all of President Trump’s tax policy and other legislative priorities into a single bill. President Trump recently expressed his preference for this single-track option, although clearing the narrow Republican majority in the House will take careful negotiation and navigation. Senate Republicans have couched their two-bill approach as a “Plan B” in case things go awry in the lower chamber.
The House will also hold votes this week on two disapproval resolutions under the Congressional Review Act to repeal Biden Administration regulations setting higher energy efficiency standards for gas-burning tankless water heaters (H.J. Res. 20) and imposing fees on companies that emit excess methane (H.J. Res. 35).
Under Senate rules, resolutions to invalidate Executive Orders receive special treatment and expedited consideration on the chamber floor. This week, the Senate will consider a resolution from Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) – requiring a supermajority to pass – to end President Trump’s declared national energy emergency that permitted the expansion of oil development and drilling. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) has also scheduled procedural votes on the nominations of Daniel Driscoll to be Army Secretary and Jamieson Greer to be U.S. Trade Representative.
It is becoming increasingly likely that congressional leaders and appropriators will have to move forward with another continuing resolution or risk the potential of a government shutdown when current funding expires on March 14. Key appropriators have yet to agree on topline funding numbers and have said that negotiations may be at an impasse.
French President Emmanuel Macron and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer will visit President Trump at the White House this week, with a focus on the ongoing negotiations with Russia to end the war in Ukraine.