Senate Joins House on Recess

What’s happening in Congress?

• The Senate departed D.C. after Democrats passed their budget resolution for a $3.5 trillion reconciliation plan on Wednesday, joining the House on August recess.

HOUSE SCHEDULE 

• The House began its August recess on Friday, July 30th. While that break continues this week, Democratic leadership has indicated that lawmakers will return for floor business on Monday, August 23rd. When the House returns next week, it will likely take up Democrats’ $3.5 trillion budget resolution. 
• However, enough moderate Democrats have indicated they’re willing to block the budget resolution until the House takes up the Senate-passed bipartisan infrastructure bill and sends it to President Joe Biden’s desk that it’s unclear whether the budget can pass. 
• For their part, progressives and Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) have said they will delay action on the bipartisan bill until the House passes the budget resolution and the Senate passes Democrats’ reconciliation plan.
• While the Democratic caucus is divided on whether to prioritize the bipartisan infrastructure bill or their partisan $3.5 trillion budget, the House is also likely to take up voting rights legislation during its session next week. Once the House completes its work next week, it’s expected to go back on recess until Monday, September 20th.

SENATE SCHEDULE

• The Senate is expected to remain on recess until Monday, September 13th, at which point it will return to consider nominees to the executive and judicial branches.
• Assuming the House passes the $3.5 trillion budget resolution, negotiations will begin in earnest on Democrats’ reconciliation bill, which could reach the floor in mid-September.

Schedule subject to change. All times Eastern.

HOUSE

• No votes are scheduled.

SENATE

• No votes are scheduled.

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

— Eric Revell