House Takes Up Birth Control & ‘Minibus’ Spending Bill, Senate Considers Judicial Nominees

What’s happening in Congress?

• Lawmakers return to the Capitol this week with the House set to take up a birth control bill along with a “minibus” appropriations package, while the Senate is set to consider judicial nominations.
• It’s possible that both chambers of Congress may consider a $52 billion bill to boost domestic semiconductor production as a standalone bill or a broader package to bolster competitiveness with China if a deal is reached. 
• Bipartisan negotiations by a conference committee on the competition and semiconductors bill have been delayed amid Democrats’ internal talks about a reconciliation spending bill. 
• Democrats’ reconciliation bill could be considered once an agreement is reached on a final package, although talks are ongoing and the spending negotiations are no longer expected to include climate spending or tax increases due to opposition by Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV).

SENATE SCHEDULE

• The Senate starts its week Monday with a procedural vote on the nomination of Nina Wong to be a U.S. District Judge for the District of Colorado. If it succeeds a confirmation vote will likely follow on Tuesday.
• Later in the week, senators may vote on the confirmation of Judge J. Michelle Childs to the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals. She was recently considered as a potential Supreme Court nominee by President Joe Biden, who ultimately nominated now-Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson.
• Committees will hold hearings on weapons of mass destruction and health security threats to the homeland; approving Finland and Sweden’s NATO membership; and mass shootings.

HOUSE SCHEDULE 

• The House starts its week Monday with votes on 10 bills under the fast-track “suspension of the rules” that requires a two-thirds majority for passage after an expedited debate. The docket includes several bills related to parks, heritage areas, trails, plus wild and scenic rivers, in addition to a resolution expressing support for Finland and Sweden’s accession to NATO.
• The rest of the week will likely focus on a bill to codify access to contraceptives, in addition to a six-bill “minibus” appropriations package.
• Committees will hold hearings on the economic policy response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine; a ban on so-called “assault weapons” and liability for gun manufacturers; and the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol.

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. 144 – Desert Sage Youth Wellness Center Access Improvement Act
• H.R. 1286 – Southern Campaign of the Revolution National Heritage Corridor Act of 2021, as amended
• H.R. 2024 – Southern Maryland National Heritage Area Act, as amended
• H.R. 3222 – Alabama Black Belt National Heritage Area Act, as amended
• H.R. 4404 – Kissimmee River Wild and Scenic River Act, as amended
• H.R. 6337 – Biking on Long-Distance Trails Act, as amended
• H.R. 7002 – Gateway Solidarity Act, as amended
• H.R. 7025 – Advancing Human Rights-Centered International Conservation Act of 2022, as amended
• H.R. 7693 – National Park Foundation Reauthorization Act of 2022
• H.Res. 1130 – Expressing support for the sovereign decision of Finland and Sweden to apply to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) as well as calling on all members of NATO to ratify the protocols of accession swiftly, as amended

Tuesday or Wednesday after 12pm, or Thursday after 9am

• H.R. 8294 – Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, Agriculture, Rural Development, Energy and Water Development, Financial Services and General Government, Interior, Environment, Military Construction, and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act, 2023
• H.R. 8373 – Right to Contraception Act
• Possible consideration of legislation related to investing in domestic semiconductor supply.
• Additional legislative items are possible.

SENATE

Monday after 5:30pm

• Cloture motion on the nomination of Nina Wong to be U.S. District Judge for the District of Colorado

Rest of the Week (Tentative)

• (If cloture is invoked) Confirmation of Nina Wong to be U.S. District Judge for the District of Colorado
• Cloture motion on the nomination of Nancy Maldonado to be U.S. District Judge for the Northern District of Illinois
• Confirmation of Judge Julianna Michelle Childs to be U.S. Circuit Judge for the District of Columbia Circuit

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

— Eric Revell