House to Take Up Democrats $3.5 Trillion Budget Resolution, Election Reform Bill Amid Infrastructure Showdown

What’s happening in Congress?

• The House will take a break from its summer recess this week to take up Democrats’ $3.5 trillion budget resolution to use reconciliation for a “human infrastructure” package along with election reform legislation.

HOUSE SCHEDULE 

• Monday will feature a procedural vote on a rule to structure debate around Democrats’ $3.5 trillion budget resolution to use reconciliation, an election reform bill, and a bipartisan infrastructure bill. 
• Democratic leadership intends to delay the vote on the bipartisan infrastructure bill until after the budget resolution passes the House and Democrats negotiate a reconciliation bill that passes the Senate, although several moderates have said they will vote to block the budget resolution unless the bipartisan infrastructure bill receives a vote first. 
• The timing of votes on the House’s schedule this week may change and lawmakers may remain in session longer than expected depending on the outcome of the votes on the budget resolution and the bipartisan infrastructure bill (if it’s considered).
• The House may also consider up to 12 previously debated suspension bills, potentially passing them in a single en bloc vote. The slate of suspension bills includes bills to waive permit application fees for veterans’ events at federal war memorials; compensate victims of “Havana syndrome” stemming from suspected acoustic attacks; and standardize federal agencies’ budget justifications. 

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 as early as mid-September.

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 (under suspension of the rules)

• S. 272: Congressional Budget Justification Transparency Act of 2021 Passed 423-1.
• S. 325: To amend the Alyce Spotted Bear and Walter Soboleff Commission on Native Children Act to extend the deadline for a report by the Alyce Spotted Bear and Walter Soboleff Commission on Native Children, and for other purposes Passed 418-7.

Tuesday after 12pm

• H.R. 4: John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2021 Deemed passed 220-210 as part of H.Res. 601.
• S.Con.Res. 14: Democratic Budget Resolution to Use Reconciliation for a $3.5 Trillion Spending Plan Passed 219-212.

Postponed

• H.R. 1029: Free Veterans from Fees Act
• S. 1828: HAVANA Act of 2021
• S. 848: Consider Teachers Act of 2021
• H.R. 1154: Great Dismal Swamp National Heritage Area Act
• H.R. 3533: To establish occupational series for Federal positions in software development, software engineering, data science, and data management, and for other purposes, as amended
• H.R. 3599: Federal Rotational Cyber Workforce Program Act of 2021, as amended
• H.R. 1204: District of Columbia Chief Financial Officer Salary Home Rule Act, as amended
• H.R. 978: Chai Suthammanont Remembrance Act of 2021, as amended
• H.R. 2617: Performance Enhancement Reform Act, as amended
• S. 2382: To authorize the National Cyber Director to accept details from other elements of the Federal Government on nonreimbursable basis, and for other purposes

Rest of the Week

• TBA

Possible Consideration

• H.R. 3684: Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act

SENATE

• No votes are scheduled.

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

— Eric Revell