Both the House and Senate are in session this week.
Last week, House Republicans were able to coalesce in dramatic fashion to pass a budget resolution that creates a process to combine President Trump’s tax policy and other legislative priorities into a single reconciliation bill. This differs from the Senate’s budget resolution, which laid the groundwork for two separate reconciliation packages: a fully offset border security, defense, and energy bill to be followed by a tax bill later in the year. However, President Trump prefers the single-track option, and congressional leaders have already begun discussing strategy for moving forward with the House’s plan.
Congressional leaders and appropriators have begun planning for another continuing resolution to extend current government funding. Negotiators have failed so far to reach an agreement on topline funding numbers. Republican leadership is pushing to enact a stopgap spending bill that would extend current funding through the end of the fiscal year on September 30. Republicans will need to win support from Democrats in the Senate to pass any plan, given that 60 votes are needed to overcome the filibuster.
On Tuesday night, all eyes will be on President Trump as he delivers a speech to a joint session of Congress, with a specific focus on how he wants congressional Republicans to deliver on his policy goals for the coming months.
The House will hold votes this week on three joint disapproval resolutions under the Congressional Review Act to repeal Biden Administration regulations on appliance energy efficiency certifications (H.J. Res. 42), rubber-tire air pollutant requirements (H.J. Res. 61), and offshore oil and gas archaeology reports (S.J. Res. 11).
The Senate will vote on the nomination of Linda McMahon to lead the Department of Education. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) has also initiated plans for a vote on legislation that would bar students who were designated male at birth from participating in school athletics designated for women or girls (S. 9).
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