Congress Looks to Raise Debt Limit Once Again as Senate Dems Negotiate Spending Plan

What’s happening in Congress?

• Lawmakers return to the Capitol this week for what may be their last work week of 2021, with both chambers planning to vote on legislation to raise the federal debt limit and Senate Democrats hoping to lock down a deal amongst themselves on their party’s $2 trillion spending plan.

SENATE SCHEDULE

• The Senate starts its week Monday with a confirmation vote on a circuit court judge for the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. 
• A nomination for a district court judge is expected to be considered on Tuesday, when the Senate may also take up the House-passed version of the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2022. The bill is a bipartisan compromise between the House and Senate versions of the annual NDAA, and may pass the chamber before senators depart for the week.
• At a time to be announced, the Senate will take up legislation to raise the debt limit on a simple-majority vote after senators reached a bipartisan deal last week to create a one-time carve-out from the legislative filibuster for debt ceiling legislation.
• Committees will hold hearings on stablecoins; disaster relief block grants; and oversight of the airline industry.

HOUSE SCHEDULE 

• The House starts what is expected to be a short work week on Tuesday, after a pro forma session Monday in which no votes will occur. 
• As soon as the Senate acts on legislation to raise the debt limit that bill will be considered in the House fairly quickly, although that timing will determine whether Tuesday is lawmakers’ only day in session or whether the House meets Wednesday or later in the week.
• Other bills that may be considered by the House are legislation to combat international Islamophobia and hold Mark Meadows in contempt of Congress for refusing to comply with a subpoena from the January 6th select committee.
• Committees will hold hearings on the Mark Meadows contempt resolution; accelerating COVID-19 vaccinations around the world; and protecting the Smithsonian and its collections against climate change.

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

Schedule subject to change. All times Eastern.

HOUSE

Monday

• No votes are expected.

Tuesday after 12pm or Wednesday

• H.R. 5665: Combating International Islamophobia Act
• Consideration of legislation to raise the debt limit.
• Resolution holding Mark Meadows in contempt of Congress.

Thursday and Friday

• No votes are expected.

SENATE

Monday after 5:30pm

• Confirmation vote on the nomination of Lucy Koh to be U.S. Circuit Judge for the Ninth Circuit

Tuesday at a TBD time

• Cloture motion on the nomination of Samantha Elliott to be U.S. District Judge for the District of New Hampshire
• (If cloture is invoked) Confirmation of Samantha Elliott to be U.S. District Judge for the District of New Hampshire
• Cloture motion on the motion to concur with the House Amendment to S. 1605: Legislative Vehicle for the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022

TBA / Rest of the Week

• Consideration of legislation to raise the debt limit.

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

— Eric Revell