Senate Returns for Judicial Confirmations & COVID-19 Relief Vote, House Continues Recess as Gov’t Funding Deadline Looms

What’s happening in Congress?

• The Senate returns to the Capitol this week for the first time after its summer recess, and while the House isn’t expected to return until next week, lawmakers will likely begin discussing a short-term government funding bill to avoid a partial government shutdown at the end of September.
• Democrats and Republicans have made little progress in reaching a compromise on the size of a “phase 4” coronavirus relief bill in recent weeks, but it’s possible the Senate could bring a package to the floor for a procedural vote with or without a bipartisan deal.

SENATE SCHEDULE

• The Senate starts its week Tuesday evening with a procedural vote on the nomination of Brett Ludwig to be U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, which will likely be followed by a confirmation vote on Wednesday. 
• After the Senate completes its consideration of Ludwig’s nomination, the rest of the week may feature the confirmation of four additional federal district court judges. 
• The Senate may take up coronavirus relief legislation if a bipartisan deal is reached, or if Republicans choose to force a vote on legislation they’ve drafted despite the possibility of Democrats blocking further consideration of it. 
• Committees will hold hearings on the role of vaccines in protecting public health, the status of Federal Reserve emergency lending programs, and management of Yellowstone Grizzly Bear populations. 

HOUSE SCHEDULE 

• The House is on recess and is next scheduled to return to the Capitol for floor votes on Monday, September 14th. Lawmakers could be recalled sooner for votes in the event of a deal on coronavirus relief legislation with at least 24 hours notice.
• Committees will hold hearings on election security during the coronavirus pandemic, financial aid to states and territories during the pandemic, and the U.S.-Saudi Arabia relationship.

Check below throughout the week to see the vote results and updates to the schedule.

Schedule subject to change. All times Eastern.

SENATE

Tuesday after 5:30pm

• Cloture motion on the nomination of Brett Ludwig to be U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of Wisconsin Invoked 83-6.

Wednesday after 11:15am

• Confirmation vote on the nomination of Brett Ludwig to be U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of Wisconsin Confirmed 91-5.
• Cloture motion on the nomination of Christy Wiegand to be U.S. District Judge for the Western District of Pennsylvania Invoked 80-16.
• Confirmation vote on the nomination of Christy Wiegand to be U.S. District Judge for the Western District of Pennsylvania Confirmed 82-14.
• Cloture motion on the nomination of Hala Jarbou to be U.S. District Judge for the Western District of Michigan Invoked 80-15.
• Cloture motion on the nomination of Thomas Cullen to be U.S. District Judge for the Western District of Virginia Invoked 77-18.
• Cloture motion on the nomination of Diane Gujarati to be U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of New York Invoked 94-2.

Thursday after 11:30am

• Confirmation vote on the nomination of Hala Jarbou to be U.S. District Judge for the Western District of Michigan Confirmed 83-15.
• Confirmation vote on the nomination of Thomas Cullen to be U.S. District Judge for the Western District of Virginia Confirmed 79-19.
• Confirmation vote on the nomination of Diane Gujarati to be U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of New York Confirmed 99-0.
• Cloture motion on the motion to concur in the House amendment to S. 178: Legislative vehicle for the Delivering Immediate Relief to America's Families, Schools and Small Businesses Act Not invoked 52-47.

HOUSE

• No votes are scheduled.

Tell your reps how to vote on this week's bills and share your thoughts below!

— Eric Revell