Senate to Take Up Democrats’ $1.9 Trillion COVID Bill, House to Vote on Reforms to Elections & Policing

What’s happening in Congress?

• The Senate is expected to take up Democrats’ $1.9 trillion coronavirus (COVID-19) spending package this week, while the House is set to vote on Democrats’ bills to reform elections and policing. 

SENATE SCHEDULE

• The Senate starts its week Monday with a confirmation vote on the nomination of Miguel Cardona to be secretary of education, followed by a procedural vote on Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo’s (D) nomination to be secretary of commerce. A confirmation vote on Raimondo’s nomination will likely follow on Tuesday.
• Once the Senate concludes its work on nominations for the week, it will take up Democrats’ $1.9 trillion spending bill that passed the House along party-lines early Saturday morning, which will be the chamber’s focus for the rest of the week. 
• Under the rules of reconciliation, the Senate will hold up to 20 hours of debate on the package before proceeding to a “vote-a-rama” in which senators will be able to freely offer amendments to the package. The $15 minimum wage included in the House bill will be removed as a violation of parliamentary rules, although Democrats may attempt to reconfigure the provision in a last-ditch bid to include it.
• The timing of the Senate’s passage vote will depend on whether any debate time is yielded back and how long the vote-a-rama takes, but it will likely occur at the end of the week. If the Senate passes an amended version of the bill as expected, the package will go back to the House for reconsideration.
• Committees will hold hearings on the Capitol riot; waste, fraud, and abuse in federal programs; global security challenges; and the racial wealth gap.

HOUSE SCHEDULE 

• The House starts its week Monday, when the Rules Committee will meet to prepare a rule for debate on a pair of bills that are expected to be the focus of the week ― the For the People Act election reform package and the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act police reform bill.
• The Rules Committee will determine whether any amendments to the bills can be debated and voted on when they reach the floor, and the House may vote on the rule Monday to set up floor consideration of the two bills during the course of the week. The House is expected to conclude its work week on Thursday.  
• Committees will hold hearings on the Capitol Police budget; waste, fraud, and abuse in federal programs; and a draft climate change bill.

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 6:30pm

• Possible vote on the rule for H.R. 1 and H.R. 1280

Tuesday after 12pm

• Amendments to H.R. 1: For the People Act of 2021

Wednesday after 12pm

• Amendments to H.R. 1: For the People Act of 2021
• H.R. 1: For the People Act of 2021 Passed 220-210.
• H.R. 1280: George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2021 Passed 220-212.

Thursday

• Session canceled, H.R. 1280 vote moved up.

Friday

• No votes are expected.

SENATE

Monday after 5:30pm

• Confirmation of Miguel Cardona as Secretary of Education Confirmed 64-33.
• Cloture motion on the nomination of Gina Raimondo as Secretary of Commerce Invoked 84-15.

Tuesday after 2:15pm

• Confirmation of Gina Raimondo as Secretary of Commerce Confirmed 84-15.
• Cloture motion on the nomination of Cecilia Elena Rouse to be Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers Invoked 94-5.
• Confirmation of Cecilia Elena Rouse to be Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers Confirmed 95-4.

Wednesday after 12pm

• No votes.

Thursday after 12pm

• Motion to proceed to H.R. 1319: American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 Agreed to 51-50.
• Debate on H.R. 1319: American Rescue Plan Act of 2021

Friday after 11am

• Debate on H.R. 1319: American Rescue Plan Act of 2021
• Amendments to H.R. 1319: American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 Vote-a-rama results here.

Saturday

• Amendments to H.R. 1319: American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 Vote-a-rama results here.
• Passage of H.R. 1319: American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 Passed 50-49.

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

— Eric Revell