Look Ahead to the Week of December 2: The Mad Dash Before the Holidays

Both the House and Senate will be in session for the next three weeks, setting off a mad dash to complete a long to-do list before the adjournment of the 118th Congress.

Government funding is set to expire on December 20, and it is expected that the House Republican leadership will push for a short-term stopgap spending bill into early next year, rather than consider a full-year funding package. This will likely delay how quickly the GOP-controlled 119th Congress can turn to pursuing its legislative priorities through the reconciliation process in 2025.

Congress will likely also consider a bill to provide disaster relief funding after a series of devastating hurricanes. The Biden Administration recently requested close to $100 billion in aid.

In the Senate, Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) will seek to confirm as many judicial appointments as possible in the limited time that the Democrats remain in control. Before Thanksgiving, Schumer struck a deal with Republican Senators to advance district court nominees while abandoning four pending appellate nominations.

Both chambers are expected to pass the annual defense authorization, which has passed with bipartisan support for the past 60 years.

Further, Republicans announced their opposition to the 2024 Farm Bill proposal from Democrats, effectively ending any chance of a full five-year package advancing in the lame-duck session. The House and Senate will need to pass a short-term extension to keep food and farm programs from expiring at the beginning of 2025.

Administration

President Biden is traveling through Cape Verde and Luanda, Angola, where he’ll meet with U.S. Embassy staffers and family members.

House Votes

On Tuesday, the House will meet to consider multiple bills under suspension.

• Bills expected under suspension of the rules.
  • H.R. 7326 – To amend chapters 4, 10, and 131 of title 5, United States Code, as necessary to keep those chapters current and to correct related technical errors. (Sponsored by Rep. Bentz / Judiciary Committee)
  • H.R. 7324 – To make improvements in the enactment of title 41, United States Code, into a positive law title and to improve the Code. (Sponsored by Rep. Balint / Judiciary Committee)
  • H.R. 7341 – To make technical amendments to title 49, United States Code, as necessary to improve the Code. (Sponsored by Rep. Tiffany / Judiciary Committee)
  • H.R. 7316 – To make revisions in Title 54, United States Code, into a positive law title and to correct related technical errors. (Sponsored by Rep. Tiffany / Judiciary Committee)
  • H.R. 7339 – To make revisions in Title 51, United States Code, as necessary to keep the title current, and to make technical amendments to improve the United States Code. (Sponsored by Rep. Ross / Judiciary Committee)
  • H.R. 7177 – To amend title 28, United States Code, to consolidate certain divisions in the Northern District of Alabama. (Sponsored by Rep. Strong / Judiciary Committee)
  • H.R. 8666 – To amend title 28, United States Code, to authorize holding court for the Central Division of Utah in Moab and Monticello. (Sponsored by Rep. Maloy / Judiciary Committee)
  • H.R. 9563 – Protecting Americans from Russian Litigation Act of 2024 (Sponsored by Rep. Hunt / Judiciary Committee)
  • S. 3960 – A bill to amend title 35, United States Code, to provide a good-faith exception to the imposition of certain fines, and for other purposes. (Sponsored by Sen. Coons / Judiciary Committee)
  • H.R. 9151 – Protecting American Industry and Labor from International Trade Crimes Act of 2024, as amended (Sponsored by Rep. Hinson / Judiciary Committee)
  • H.R. 7872 – Colorado River Salinity Control Fix Act (Sponsored by Rep. Curtis / Natural Resources Committee)
  • H.R. 5103 – FISHES Act, as amended (Sponsored by Rep. Donalds / Natural Resources Committee)
  • H.R. 6107 – Urban Canal Modernization Act, as amended (Sponsored by Rep. Simpson / Natural Resources Committee)
  • H.R. 8413 – Swanson and Hugh Butler Reservoirs Land Conveyances Act, as amended (Sponsored by Rep. Adrian Smith / Natural Resources Committee)
  • H.R. 6826 – To designate the visitor and education center at Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine as the Paul S. Sarbanes Visitor and Education Center. (Sponsored by Rep. Mfume / Natural Resources Committee)
  • H.R. 6395 – Recognizing the Importance of Critical Minerals in Healthcare Act of 2023 (Sponsored by Rep. Curtis / Natural Resources Committee)
  • H.R. 7332 – Utah State Parks Adjustment Act, as amended (Sponsored by Rep. Maloy / Natural Resources Committee)
  • S. 3791 – America’s Conservation Enhancement Reauthorization Act of 2024, as amended (Sponsored by Sen. Carper / Natural Resources Committee)
  • H.R. 390 – Maurice D. Hinchey Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area Enhancement Act, as amended (Sponsored by Rep. Stefanik / Natural Resources Committee)
  • H.R. 8219 – Lahaina National Heritage Area Act, as amended (Sponsored by Rep. Tokuda / Natural Resources Committee)
  • H.R. 6843 – To expand the boundaries of the Atchafalaya National Heritage Area to include Lafourche Parish, Louisiana. (Sponsored by Rep. Scalise / Natural Resources Committee)

  Wednesday – Friday, the House is scheduled to meet for legislative business and to consider additional bills under suspension.

• Bills expected under a rule.
  • H.R. 5349 – Crucial Communism Teaching Act (Sponsored by Rep. Salazar / Education and the Workforce Committee). The measure would commission a civic education curriculum to teach high school students about the history of communism. The curriculum would be developed by the Victims of Communism Memorial Fund.
  • H.R. 7198 – Prove It Act of 2024 (Sponsored by Rep. Finstad / Judiciary Committee). The measure would permit industry groups to petition the Small Business Administration to examine whether a federal regulation would have significant economic effects on a large number of small businesses.
• Bills expected under suspension of the rules.
  • H.R. 9598 – Office of National Drug Control Policy Reauthorization Act of 2024, as amended (Sponsored by Rep. Comer / Oversight and Accountability Committee)
  • H.R. 1695 – Strengthening Agency Management and Oversight of Software Assets Act, as amended (Sponsored by Rep. Cartwright / Oversight and Accountability Committee)
  • H.R. 9566 – SHARE IT Act, as amended (Sponsored by Rep. Langworthy / Oversight and Accountability Committee)
  • S. 709 – Federal Agency Performance Act of 2023, as amended (Sponsored by Sen. Peters / Oversight and Accountability Committee)
  • S. 91 – Forgotten Heroes of the Holocaust Congressional Gold Medal Act (Sponsored by Sen. Hagerty / Financial Services Committee)
  • H.R. 1088 – Shirley Chisholm Congressional Gold Medal Act (Sponsored by Rep. Barbara Lee / Financial Services Committee)
  • H.R. 6751 – Roberto Clemente Commemorative Coin Act (Sponsored by Rep. Espaillat / Financial Services Committee)
  • H.R. 7480 – Disabled Veterans Housing Support Act, as amended (Sponsored by Rep. De La Cruz / Financial Services Committee)
  • H.R. 3507 – Yes In My Backyard Act, as amended (Sponsored by Rep. Kilmer / Financial Services Committee)

Senate Votes

On Monday, the Senate will begin consideration on the nominations of Anne Hwang to be a judge in the Central District of California. Votes are also expected on the nominations of Sparkle L. Sooknanan for the District of Columbia, Brian Edward Murphy in Massachusetts, Cynthia Valenzuela Dixon for the Central District of California, Catherine Henry for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Noel Wise for the Northern District of California, and Gail A. Weilheimer for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

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