Congress Faces Looming Deadline to Extend Surface Transportation Programs as Democrats Negotiate Spending Bill

What’s happening in Congress?

• Lawmakers face a Halloween deadline to extend the authorization of surface transportation programs before they lapse for the second time in as many months. 
• The Senate-passed bipartisan infrastructure bill includes a reauthorization of those programs in addition to a number of other provisions, and may receive a vote this week if Democrats are able to reach a deal on their social spending plan. If a deal is reached, a vote on that spending package could occur as soon as this week. 

SENATE SCHEDULE

• The Senate starts its week Monday with a pair of confirmation votes on the nominations of a circuit court judge and assistant secretary of labor.
• Later in the week, the Senate will take up the nominations of four district court judges, and may take a second procedural vote on Democrats’ latest election reform package
• Committees will hold hearings on the security situation in Afghanistan along with South and Central Asia; emerging threats to election administration; and oversight of the Dept. of Justice.

HOUSE SCHEDULE 

• The House starts its week Monday with votes on several bills under the fast-track “suspension of the rules” process, including a bill to award a Congressional Gold Medal to the 13 American servicemembers who were killed in the Kabul Airport suicide attack. 
• Tuesday will feature a vote on a bill to extend and reform family violence prevention programs. Additional votes on criminal justice and social services-related suspension bills may occur Wednesday and Thursday.
• If a deal is reached on Democrats’ social spending plan, the House may vote on the bipartisan infrastructure package in addition to potentially Democrats’ reconciliation bill as well. Votes on other legislation may be held before the House adjourns for the week on Thursday.
• Committees will hold hearings on diversity, equity, and inclusion in disaster preparedness and recovery; diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in the intelligence community; and international climate challenges and opportunities.

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)

• H.R. 5142: To award posthumously a Congressional Gold Medal, in commemoration to the service members who perished in Afghanistan on August 26, 2021, during the evacuation of citizens of the United States and Afghan allies at Hamid Karzai International Airport, and for other purposes Passed by voice vote.
• H.R. 4111: Sovereign Debt Contract Capacity Act Passed 391-29.
• H.R. 2989: Financial Transparency Act Passed 400-19.
• H.R. 2265: Financial Exploitation Prevention Act Passed by voice vote.

Tuesday after 12pm

• H.R. 2119: Family Violence Prevention and Services Improvement Act of 2021 Passed 228-200.

Wednesday after 12pm

• H.R. 5561: Continued State Flexibility to Assist Older Foster Youth Act Passed by voice vote.
• S. 921: Jaime Zapata and Victor Avila Federal Officers and Employees Protection Act Passed by voice vote.
• S. 1502: COPS Counseling Act of 2021 Passed 424-3.
• S. 1511: Protecting America’s First Responders Act of 2021, as amended Passed 420-3.
• H.R. 4035: Real Justice for Our Veterans Act of 2021, as amended Passed by voice vote.
• S. 1046: Residential Substance Use Disorder Treatment Act of 2021 Consideration postponed.

Thursday after 9am

• H.R. 5763: Further Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2021 Passed 358-59.

Next Week (Tentative)

• Possible consideration of the Senate Amendment to H.R. 3684: Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act
• Possible consideration of the Build Back Better Act
• Possible consideration of H.R. 3992: Protect Older Job Applicants Act of 2021
• Additional legislative items are possible.

SENATE

Monday after 5:30pm

• Confirmation of Douglas Parker to be an Assistant Secretary of Labor Confirmed 50-41.
• Confirmation of Myrna Perez to be U.S. Circuit Judge for the Second Circuit Court of Appeals Confirmed 48-43.

Tuesday after 11am

• Cloture motion on the nomination of Jia Cobb to be U.S. District Judge for the District of Columbia Invoked 51-46.
• Confirmation of Jia Cobb to be U.S. District Judge for the District of Columbia Confirmed 56-38.
• Cloture motion on the nomination of Karen Williams to be U.S. District Judge for the District of New Jersey Invoked 58-40.
• Confirmation of Karen Williams to be U.S. District Judge for the District of New Jersey Confirmed 56-38.
• Cloture motion on the nomination of Patricia Giles to be U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of Virginia Invoked 69-29.
• Confirmation of Patricia Giles to be U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of Virginia Confirmed 68-27.
• Cloture motion on the nomination of Michael Nachmanoff to be U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of Virginia Invoked 51-46.
• Cloture motion on the nomination of Sarala Nagala to be U.S. District Judge for the District of Connecticut Invoked 52-46.

Wednesday after 11am

• Confirmation of Michael Nachmanoff to be U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of Virginia Confirmed 52-46.
• Confirmation of Sarala Nagala to be U.S. District Judge for the District of Connecticut Confirmed 52-46.
• Cloture motion on the nomination of Matthew Olsen to be Assistant Attorney General Invoked 52-44.
• Cloture motion on the nomination of Christopher Schroeder to be Assistant Attorney General Invoked 55-41.
• Cloture motion on the nomination of Omar Williams to be U.S. District Judge for the District of Connecticut Invoked 52-46.
• Cloture motion on the nomination of Hampton Dellinger to be Assistant Attorney General Invoked 51-45.
• Cloture motion on the nomination of Elizabeth Prelogar to be Solicitor General Invoked 53-42.

Thursday after 11am

• Confirmation of Omar Williams to be U.S. District Judge for the District of Connecticut Confirmed 53-45.
• Confirmation of Matthew Olsen to be Assistant Attorney General Confirmed 53-45.
• Confirmation of Christopher Schroeder to be Assistant Attorney General Confirmed 56-41.
• Confirmation of Hampton Dellinger to be Assistant Attorney General Confirmed 53-37.
• Confirmation of Elizabeth Prelogar to be Solicitor General Confirmed 53-36.
• Cloture motion on the nomination of Beth Robinson to be U.S. Circuit Judge for the Second Circuit Invoked 51-36.
• Cloture motion on the nomination of Toby Heytens to be U.S. Circuit Judge for the Fourth Circuit Invoked 51-31.
• H.R. 5763: Further Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2021 Passed by unanimous consent.

Rest of the Week

• Possible motion to reconsider the failed cloture motion on the motion to proceed to S. 2747: Freedom to Vote Act

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

— Eric Revell