Congress Looks to Avoid a Gov’t Shutdown (Again) & Reach a Deal on COVID-19 Relief

What’s happening in Congress?

• Congress begins this week in a very similar position to last week ― facing a deadline of midnight Friday to pass legislation funding the government to avoid a partial shutdown while also trying to negotiate an elusive deal on coronavirus (COVID-19) relief. Votes on either package likely won’t be scheduled until deals are reached. 
• Lawmakers are hoping to reach an agreement on an omnibus spending package that would fund the government through the rest of fiscal year 2021, although passing another short-term continuing resolution is a fallback option. 
• Leaders in both parties have said that Congress shouldn’t adjourn for the year without enacting COVID-19 relief legislation, so it’s possible that this week’s session may continue through the weekend or into next week. 

SENATE SCHEDULE

• The Senate convenes on Monday for a procedural vote on the nomination of Thomas Kirsch II to serve as an appellate judge on the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals. If confirmed, Kirsch would fill the vacancy created by the elevation of Supreme Court Associate Justice Amy Coney Barrett.
• Additionally, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) took procedural steps to allow for the consideration of Katherine Crytzer’s nomination to be a judge for the Eastern District of Tennessee.
• Committees will hold hearings on irregularities in the 2020 election, America’s economic competition with China, and testing and treatment pipelines in the Alzheimer’s crisis.

HOUSE SCHEDULE 

• Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) indicated that the earliest votes may be on Tuesday if deals on government funding or coronavirus relief are reached and that the House won’t convene until agreements on those packages are reached.
• Hoyer indicated that the schedule “could be very fluid” and that members are “urged to keep their schedules flexible” for when votes are scheduled.

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

Schedule subject to change. All times Eastern.

SENATE

Monday (12/14) after 5:30pm

• Cloture motion on the nomination of Thomas Kirsch II to be U.S. Circuit Judge for the Seventh Circuit Invoked 51-42.

Tuesday (12/15) after 5pm

• Confirmation of Thomas Kirsch II to be U.S. Circuit Judge for the Seventh Circuit Confirmed 51-44.
• Cloture motion on the nomination of Katherine Crytzer to be U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of Tennessee Invoked 48-47.

Wednesday (12/16) after 11:30am

• Confirmation of Katherine Crytzer to be U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of Tennessee Confirmed 48-47.
• Cloture motion on the nomination of Joseph Dawson III to be U.S. District Judge for the District of South Carolina Invoked 56-49.
• Confirmation of Joseph Dawson III to be U.S. District Judge for the District of South Carolina Confirmed 56-39.
• Cloture motion on the nomination of Charles Atchley, Jr. to be U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of Tennessee Invoked 54-41.

Thursday (12/17) after 11am

• Confirmation of Charles Atchley, Jr. to be U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of Tennessee Confirmed 54-41.
• Cloture motion on the nomination of Zachary Somers to be a Judge of the U.S. Court of Federal Claims for a 15-year term Invoked 52-42.
• Confirmation of Zachary Somers to be a Judge of the U.S. Court of Federal Claims for a 15-year term Confirmed 52-43.

Friday (12/18)

• H.J.Res. 107: Two-Day Continuing Resolution Passed by unanimous consent.

Saturday (12/19)

• Cloture motion on the nomination of Thompson Michael Dietz to be a Judge of the U.S. Court of Federal Claims for a 15-year term Invoked 50-37.
• Confirmation of Thompson Michael Dietz to be a Judge of the U.S. Court of Federal Claims for a 15-year term Confirmed 51-36.
• Cloture motion on the nomination of John Chase Johnson to be Inspector General, Federal Communications Commission Not invoked 39-48.
• Cloture motion on the nomination of Eric Soskin to be Inspector General, Dept. of Transportation Not invoked 39-48.
• Cloture motion on the nomination of Beth Harwell to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the Tennessee Valley Authority for a term expiring May 18, 2024 Invoked 61-25.

Sunday (12/20)

• Confirmation of Beth Harwell to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the Tennessee Valley Authority for a term expiring May 18, 2024 Confirmed 59-25.
• Cloture motion on the nomination of Brian Noland to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the Tennessee Valley Authority for a term expiring May 18, 2024 Invoked 84-5.
• Confirmation of Brian Noland to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the Tennessee Valley Authority for a term expiring May 18, 2024 Confirmed 84-5.
• Cloture motion on the nomination of Fernando Aenlle-Rocha to be U.S. District Judge for the Central District of California Invoked 82-7.
• Confirmation of Fernando Aenlle-Rocha to be U.S. District Judge for the Central District of California Confirmed 81-8.
• H.J.Res. 110: One-Day Continuing Resolution Passed by voice vote.

Monday (12/21)

• Motion to reconsider the cloture motion on the nomination of Eric Soskin to be Inspector General, Dept. of Transportation Agreed to 48-46.
• Cloture motion on the nomination of Eric Soskin to be Inspector General, Dept. of Transportation Invoked 48-44.
• Confirmation of Eric Soskin to be Inspector General, Dept. of Transportation Confirmed 48-47.
• H.Con.Res. 128: Seven-Day Continuing Resolution Passed by unanimous consent.
• House Amendment to the Senate Amendment to H.R. 113: Omnibus Appropriations and Coronavirus Relief Passed 92-6.

Rest of the Week

• Motion to reconsider the cloture motion on the nomination of John Chase Johnson to be Inspector General, Federal Communications Commission

HOUSE

Monday (12/14)

• The House will not be in session.

Tuesday (12/15)

• No votes are expected.

Wednesday (12/16) after 2pm

• S. 2216: TEAM Veteran Caregivers Act Passed 380-0.
• S. 2174: Missing Persons and Unidentified Remains Act of 2019 Passed by voice vote.
• S. 3312: Crisis Stabilization and Community Reentry Act of 2020 Passed by voice vote.
• Senate Amendment to H.R. 7105: Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D. Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvements Act of 2020 Passed by voice vote.
• S. 1694: One Small Step to Protect Human Heritage in Space Act, as amended Passed by voice vote.
• S. 2472: Neil A. Armstrong Test Facility Act Passed by voice vote.

Thursday (12/17) after 12pm

• S. 3989: United States Semiquincentennial Commission Amendments Act of 2020, as amended Passed by voice vote.
• H.R. 6535: A bill to deem an urban Indian organization and employees thereof to be a part of the Public Health Service for the purposes of certain claims for personal injury Passed by voice vote.
• H.R. 3250: Julius Rosenwald and the Rosenwald Schools Act of 2020, as amended Passed 387-5.
• H.R. 7460: Peace Corps Commemorative Work Extension Act Passed by voice vote.
• H.R. 5472: Jimmy Carter National Historical Park Redesignation Act Passed by voice vote.
• H.R. 5852: Weir Farm National Historical Park Redesignation Act Passed by voice vote.

Friday (12/18) after 12pm

• H.J.Res. 107: Two-Day Continuing Resolution Passed 320-60.
• S. 3418: STORM Act Passed by voice vote.
• S. 979: Federal Advance Contracts Enhancement Act Passed 386-1.
• S. 2730: Drone Advisory Committee for the 21st Century Act Passed by voice vote.

Sunday (12/20)

• H.J.Res. 110: One-Day Continuing Resolution Passed 329-65.

Monday (12/21)

• H.Con.Res. 128: Seven-Day Continuing Resolution Adopted 227-180 (as H.Res. 1271: Rule for H.R. 113)
• House Amendment to the Senate Amendment to H.R. 113: Omnibus Appropriations and Coronavirus Relief (CJS, Defense, Financial Services, Homeland Security) Passed 327-85.
• House Amendment to the Senate Amendment to H.R. 113: Omnibus Appropriations and Coronavirus Relief (Remainder of the Package) Passed 359-53.

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

— Eric Revell