House Departs as Democrats’ Infrastructure & Reconciliation Negotiations Continue, Senate Returns to Consider Nominations

What’s happening in Congress?

• Democrats in Congress are continuing negotiations on their reconciliation spending bill and its connection to the bipartisan infrastructure bill off the floor this week, with the Senate in session to consider nominations and the House on recess.
• Congress is facing a mid-October deadline to raise the debt limit and avert a default, and it’s unclear how lawmakers will resolve the issue. Democrats have thus far declined to use the reconciliation process to increase the debt limit on a party-line vote and Republicans have blocked Democrats’ efforts to pass a bill suspending the debt limit until mid-December 2022.
• Other looming priorities are an extension of surface transportation programs which experienced an authorization lapse on October 1st and 2nd amid Democrats’ impasse over the pair of spending bills before they were extended through October 31st; and funding federal agencies for the rest of fiscal year 2022 beyond December 3rd.

SENATE SCHEDULE

• The Senate convenes Monday for a confirmation vote on the nomination of a general counsel for the Dept. of Homeland Security. 
• Later in the week, the Senate will likely consider the nominations of a deputy administrator for the U.S. Agency for International Development and a district court judge for western Washington.
• The Senate may take a procedural vote to limit debate on Democrats’ bill to suspend the debt limit through mid-December 2022, although it’s expected to fall short of the 60 votes needed to succeed due to Republican opposition.
• Committees will hold hearings on data security; Democrats’ bill to strengthen judicial review and preclearance of election reforms; and the response to Hurricane Ida.

HOUSE SCHEDULE 

• The House adjourned on Friday, September 30th, and is not scheduled to return for floor business until Tuesday, October 19th, although committees will hold hybrid and remote hearings during the next two weeks.
• Democratic leadership has told members they may be recalled for votes sooner than that if “significant legislation” such as a debt limit increase needs to come to the floor.
• That means the House could return if a deal is reached by Democrats on their reconciliation spending package and the bipartisan infrastructure bill. If that transpires, lawmakers can expect 72 hours of notice ahead of votes.
• Committees will hold hearings on the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan; Hurricane Ida and disaster resilience; and the Arizona election audit. 

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

Schedule subject to change. All times Eastern.

SENATE

Monday after 5:30pm

• Confirmation of Jonathan Meyer to be General Counsel, Dept. of Homeland Security Confirmed 51-47.

Tuesday after 11am

• Cloture motion on the nomination of Paloma Adams-Allen to be a Deputy Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development Invoked 78-21.
• Confirmation of Paloma Adams-Allen to be a Deputy Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development Confirmed 79-20.
• Cloture motion on the nomination of Lauren King to be U.S. District Judge for the Western District of Washington Invoked 55-44.
• Confirmation of Lauren King to be U.S. District Judge for the Western District of Washington Confirmed 55-44.

Wednesday after 11:45am

• Cloture motion on the nomination of Sarah Merriam to be U.S. District Judge for the District of Connecticut Invoked 53-47.
• Confirmation of Sarah Merriam to be U.S. District Judge for the District of Connecticut Confirmed 54-46.

Thursday

• Motion to discharge from HELP Committee the nomination of Catherine Lhamon to be Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Dept. of Education Agreed to 50-49.
• Cloture motion on the motion to proceed to the Senate Amendment to the House Amendment to S. 1301: Debt Limit Increase Invoked 61-38.
• Senate Amendment to the House Amendment to S. 1301: Debt Limit Increase Thru December 3rd Passed 50-48.
• Cloture motion on the nomination of Gustavo Gelpi to be U.S. Circuit Judge for the First Circuit Invoked 54-39.

HOUSE

• No votes are scheduled.

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

— Eric Revell