Congress Looks to Avoid a Partial Government Shutdown & Approve Coronavirus Relief

What’s happening in Congress?

• Congress convenes this week facing a deadline of midnight Friday to enact legislation funding the government and avoid a partial shutdown from occurring. It’s unclear whether that will take the form of a short-term continuing resolution (CR) or a larger omnibus package that funds the government for the remainder of fiscal year 2021. 
• Members are also hoping to finalize a coronavirus (COVID-19) relief package before the lame duck session ends. Additionally, Congress is expected to approve the annual defense authorization bill this week.
• As of Sunday, lawmakers haven’t finalized the legislative text of legislation to fund the government or a COVID-19 deal, although negotiations on both fronts are expected to continue. 

SENATE SCHEDULE

• The Senate starts its week Monday by considering the nomination of a federal claims court judge. Once it concludes consideration of that nomination on Tuesday, it will move on to the nomination of a member of the Federal Communications Commission.
• The rest of the Senate’s agenda this week is yet to be announced, but the chamber is expected to consider government funding legislation and the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) before the end of the week. 
• The Senate is scheduled to be in session next week.
• Committees will hold hearings on outpatient treatment for COVID-19, the future of the Paycheck Protection Program for small businesses, and reforming liability protections for social media companies.

HOUSE SCHEDULE 

• The House begins its week with Monday votes on a series of bipartisan bills related to foreign policy and preventing student loan scams. Tuesday will feature a vote on the NDAA and more relatively bipartisan bills.
• On Wednesday or Thursday, the House is expected to vote on government funding legislation. A vote on COVID relief will be scheduled after a deal is reached.
• The House is scheduled to conclude its work for the year on Thursday, although that’s contingent on Congress passing government funding legislation and likely COVID relief as well.
• Committees will hold hearings on Syria policy, international human rights, and presidential transitions.

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

Schedule subject to change. All times Eastern.

HOUSE

Monday after 2pm (under suspension of the rules)

• H.Res. 512: Calling for the global repeal of blasphemy, heresy, and apostasy laws, as amended Passed 386-3.
• H.Res. 1100: A resolution reaffirming the importance of the strategic partnership between the United States and Mongolia, as amended Passed by voice vote.
• H.Res. 823: Condemning the Government of Iran’s state-sponsored persecution of its Baha’i minority and its continued violation of the International Covenants on Human Rights, as amended Passed by voice vote.
• H.Res. 189: A resolution supporting sustained United States leadership to accelerating global progress against maternal and child malnutrition and supporting United States Agency for International Development’s commitment to global nutrition through its multi-sectoral nutrition strategy, as amended Passed by voice vote.
• H.R. 8428: Hong Kong People’s Freedom and Choice Act of 2020 Passed by voice vote.
• S. 461: HBCU PARTNERS Act, as amended Passed 388-6.
• S. 1153: Stop Student Debt Relief Scams Act of 2019 Passed by voice vote.

Tuesday after 12pm

• Conference Report to accompany H.R. 6395: William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 Passed 335-78, 1 present.
• S. 134: Combat Online Predators Act Passed by voice vote.
• S. 578: ALS Disability Insurance Access Act of 2019 Passed by voice vote.
• S. 1811: Water Resources Development Act of 2020, as amended Passed by voice vote.
• S. 1014: Route 66 Centennial Commission Act Passed by voice vote.
• S. 4902: To designate the United States courthouse located at 351 South West Temple in Salt Lake City, Utah, as the “Orrin G. Hatch United States Courthouse” Passed by voice vote.
• H.R. 1375: PAID Act Passed by voice vote.
• H.R. 2477: BENES Act Passed by voice vote.
• H.R. 8161: The One Stop Shop Community Reentry Program Act of 2020, as amended Passed by voice vote.
• S. 2258: Criminal Antitrust Anti-Retaliation Act of 2019 Passed by voice vote.
• H.R. 683: PPRADA Passed by voice vote.
• H.R. 8354: Servicemembers and Veterans Initiative Act of 2020, as amended Passed 400-1.
• H.R. 8235: Open Courts Act of 2020 Passed by voice vote.
• S. 3989: United States Semiquincentennial Commission Amendments Act of 2020, as amended Consideration postponed.

Wednesday after 12pm

• H.R. 8900: Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2021, and Other Extensions Act Passed 343-67.
• H.R. 3797: Medical Marijuana Research Act, as amended Passed by voice vote.
• H.Res 549: Reaffirming the commitment to media diversity and pledging to work with media entities and diverse stakeholders to develop common ground solutions to eliminate barriers to media diversity Passed by voice vote.
• H.R. 3361: RIVER Act Passed by voice vote.
• H.R. 5541: Tribal Power Act, as amended Passed by voice vote.
• H.R. 1426: Timely Review of Infrastructure Act Passed by voice vote.
• H.R. 5758: Ceiling Fan Improvement Act of 2020 Passed 396-2.
• H.R. 1570: Removing Barriers to Colorectal Cancer Screening Act of 2020, as amended Passed by voice vote.
• H.R. 7898: To amend title XXX of the Public Health Services Act to provide for a technical correction to provide the Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Service certain authorities with respect to investigations of information blocking, and for other purposes, as amended Passed by voice vote.
• H.R. 1966: Henrietta Lacks Enhancing Cancer Research Act Passed by voice vote.

Thursday after 9am

• H.R. 970: Robert E. Lee Statue Removal Act, as amended Passed by voice vote.
• H.R. 5040: AIR Safety Act of 2020, as amended Passed 382-6.
• S. 906: Driftnet Modernization and Bycatch Reduction Act Passed 283-105.
• H.R. 1240: Young Fishermen’s Development Act, as amended Passed by voice vote.
• H.R. 5458: Rocky Mountain National Park Boundary Modification Act Passed by voice vote.
• H.R. 5459: Rocky Mountain National Park Ownership Correction Act Passed by voice vote.
• H.R 7098: Saguaro National Park Boundary Expansion and Study Act of 2020, as amended Passed by voice vote.
• H.R. 7489: Long Bridge Act of 2020, as amended Passed by voice vote.
• Additional legislative items are possible

SENATE

Monday after 5:30pm

• Cloture motion on the nomination of Stephen Sidney Schwartz to be a Judge of the U.S. Court of Federal Claims for a 15 year term Invoked 48-46.

Tuesday after 4pm

• Confirmation of Stephen Sidney Schwartz to be a Judge of the U.S. Court of Federal Claims for a 15 year term Confirmed 49-47.
• Cloture motion on the nomination of Nathan Simington to be a Member of the Federal Communications Commission for a term of 5 years from July 1, 2019 Invoked 49-47.
• Confirmation of Nathan Simington to be a Member of the Federal Communications Commission for a term of 5 years from July 1, 2019 Confirmed 49-46.

Wednesday after 11am

• Confirmation of Sean Cooksey to be a Member of the Federal Election Commission for a term expiring April 30, 2021 Confirmed 50-46.
• Confirmation of Shana Broussard to be a Member of the Federal Election Commission for a term expiring April 30, 2023 Confirmed 92-4.
• Confirmation of Allen Dickerson to be a Member of the Federal Election Commission for a term expiring April 30, 2025 Confirmed 49-47.
• Motion to discharge S.J.Res. 77: Arms Sales Resolution of Disapproval (UAE) Not agreed to 46-50.
• Motion to discharge S.J.Res. 78: Arms Sales Resolution of Disapproval (UAE) Not agreed to 47-49.

Thursday

• Debating Cloture motion on the Conference Report to accompany H.R. 6395: William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021

Friday after 10:30am

• Cloture motion on the Conference Report to accompany H.R. 6395: William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 Invoked 84-13.
• Passage of the Conference Report to accompany H.R. 6395: William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 Passed 84-13.
• H.R. 8900: Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2021, and Other Extensions Act Passed by voice vote.

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

— Eric Revell