Congress Returns From Recess Facing Friday Deadline to Fund the Gov’t & Avert Shutdown

What’s happening in Congress?

• Lawmakers will return to the Capitol from their Thanksgiving recess facing a deadline of midnight Friday to pass legislation funding the federal government and avoid a partial shutdown from occurring.
• Congress is expected to approve a short-term continuing resolution to extend the funding deadline, although it's unclear whether the stopgap bill will have a funding expiration date prior to the Christmas recess or in the New Year, or which chamber will vote first on the measure.

SENATE SCHEDULE

• The Senate starts its week Monday when it will resume debate on the upper chamber’s version of the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2022. Senators may vote on amendments to the NDAA prior to passage, although how many will receive votes has been the subject of negotiations that began prior to the Thanksgiving recess.
• At a time to be determined, the Senate is also expected to consider the continuing resolution to fund the government and avoid a shutdown. Senators will have to reach a unanimous consent agreement to speed up its consideration by bypassing some of the chamber’s procedural hurdles, and votes on amendments may occur as part of such an agreement.
• Committees will hold hearings on oversight of Treasury Dept. and Federal Reserve programs under the CARES Act; U.S. foreign policy on democracy in Latin America and the Caribbean; and an end of year look at the state of the Dept. of Veterans Affairs.

HOUSE SCHEDULE 

• The House starts its week Tuesday with votes on 11 bills under the fast-track “suspension of the rules” process, which requires a two-thirds majority for passage in exchange for expedited debate. 
• Monday’s suspension bills include legislation to improve awareness of cybersecurity and synthetic opioids. An additional 13 suspension bills may be considered by the House over the course of the rest of the week, including bills to reform various tribal policies and make technical corrections to the U.S. Code.
• It’s unclear when the House will vote on the continuing resolution or whether it will vote before the Senate. 
• Committees will hold hearings on ensuring American leadership in microelectronics; oversight of the pandemic response by the Treasury Dept. and Federal Reserve; and the evolving cybersecurity landscape around the nation’s infrastructure.

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

• Cloture motion on the Reed-Inhofe Substitute Amendment (#3867) to H.R. 4350: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022

Tuesday & the Rest of the Week

• Amendments to H.R. 4350: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022
• Passage of H.R. 4350: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022 as amended, if amended
• Confirmation of Brian Nelson to be Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Crimes
• Possible motion to reconsider the failed cloture motion on the motion to proceed to S. 2747: Freedom to Vote Act
• Possible motion to reconsider the failed cloture motion on the motion to proceed to S. 4: John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2021

HOUSE

Monday

• The House is not in session.

Tuesday after 6:30pm (under suspension of the rules)

• H.R. 2685: Understanding Cybersecurity of Mobile Networks Act, as amended
• H.R. 4045: FUTURE Networks Act, as amended
• H.R. 4055: American Cybersecurity Literacy Act, as amended
• H.R. 2355: Opioid Prescription Verification Act of 2021, as amended
• H.R. 2364: Synthetic Opioid Danger Awareness Act, as amended
• H.R. 3743: Supporting the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health and the Reagan-Udall Foundation for the Food and Drug Administration Act
• H.R. 3894: CARING for Social Determinants Act of 2021, as amended
• H.R. 4026: Social Determinants of Health Data Analysis Act of 2021
• H.R. 550: Immunization Infrastructure Modernization Act of 2021, as amended
• H.R. 951: Maternal Vaccination Act, as amended
• H.R. 1550: PREVENT HPV Cancers Act of 2021, as amended

Wednesday or Thursday after 12pm, or Friday between 9am and 3pm

• Continuing resolution making further appropriations for FY2022
• H.R. 2930: Safeguard Tribal Objects of Patrimony Act of 2021, as amended
• H.R. 4352: To amend the Act of June 18, 1934, to reaffirm the authority of the Secretary of the Interior to take land into trust for Indian Tribes, and for other purposes
• H.R. 897: Agua Caliente Land Exchange Fee to Trust Confirmation Act, as amended
• H.R. 2074: Indian Buffalo Management Act, as amended
• H.R. 3531: Women Who Worked on the Home Front World War II Memorial Act, as amended
• H.R. 4076: Blackwell School National Historic Site Act
• H.R. 5720: Courthouse Ethics and Transparency Act, as amended
• H.R. 5677: To make technical amendments to update statutory references to certain provisions classified to title 2, United States Code, title 50, United States Code, and title 52, United States Code
• H.R. 5679: To make technical amendments to update statutory references to certain provisions classified to title 7, title 20, and title 43, United States Code
• H.R. 5695: To make technical amendments to update statutory references to certain provisions which were formerly classified to chapters 14 and 19 of title 25, United States Code
• H.R. 5705: To make technical amendments to update statutory references to provisions reclassified to title 34, United States Code
• H.R. 5961: To make revisions in title 5, United States Code, as necessary to keep the title current, and to make technical amendments to improve the United States Code
• H.R. 5982: To make revisions in title 51, United States Code, as necessary to keep the title current, and to make technical amendments to improve the United States Code
• Additional legislative items are possible.

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

— Eric Revell