Both the House and Senate will be in session this week, after narrowly averting a government shutdown over the weekend. In what came as a surprise to almost everyone, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) offered a clean continuing resolution that would extend government funding at the current fiscal year 2023 levels for 45 days. The bill was passed on Saturday after the Speaker was unable to make any progress in negotiating with conservative Freedom Caucus members. Although the stopgap measure did not contain any aid to Ukraine and abandoned McCarthy’s earlier requirement of border security provisions, the Speaker was able to secure the support of Democrats and rank-and-file Republicans. The Senate passed the bipartisan measure later that night, quickly sending it to the President’s desk.
Now, McCarthy will face a rebellion from members of the Freedom Caucus. Led by Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL), these members will attempt to force a vote in the House this week to effectively remove McCarthy as Speaker. Given the slim edge Republicans hold in the House, McCarthy could be ousted if Gaetz can persuade four other Freedom Caucus members to vote with him alongside unified Democratic support. However, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jefferies (D-NY) and the Democrats could rescue McCarthy by voting against the motion.
The House will also consider two more of the 12 stand-alone fiscal year 2024 funding bills – Energy and Water Development and the Legislative Branch. These bills did not garner bipartisan support during committee consideration and have no chance of being enacted in the Senate.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom selected Laphonza Butler, president of Emily’s List, to fill the Senate seat left open after Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) passed away last week.
House Side
On Monday, the House will meet to consider multiple bills under suspension.
- Bills expected under suspension of the rules.
- H.R. 4502 – Modernizing the Acquisition of Cybersecurity Experts Act of 2023, as amended (Rep. Mace – Oversight and Accountability). The bill would prohibit federal agencies from setting minimum education requirements for cybersecurity positions unless required by law in a state or locality.
- H.R. 292 – To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 24355 Creekside Road in Santa Clarita, California, as the “William L. Reynolds Post Office Building” (Rep. Mike Garcia – Oversight and Accountability).
- H.R. 996 – To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 3901 MacArthur Blvd., in New Orleans, Louisiana, as the “Dr. Rudy Lombard Post Office” (Rep. Troy Carter – Oversight and Accountability).
- H.R. 2379 – To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 616 East Main Street in St. Charles, Illinois, as the “Veterans of the Vietnam War Memorial Post Office” (Rep. Krishnamoorthi – Oversight and Accountability).
- H.R. 3944 – To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 120 West Church Street in Mount Vernon, Georgia, as the “Second Lieutenant Patrick Palmer Calhoun Post Office” (Rep. Allen – Oversight and Accountability).
Tuesday – Thursday, the House is scheduled to meet for legislative business.
- Bills expected under a rule.
- H.R. 4394 – Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024 (Rep. Fleischmann – Appropriations). The Energy Department, Army Corps of Engineers, and related agencies would receive $52.4 billion in discretionary funding for fiscal year 2024 under H.R. 4394. The amount would be $1.6 billion less than the 2023 level and $7.5 billion less than the White House request.
- H.R. 4364 – Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2024 (Rep. Amodei – Appropriations). The House of Representatives and other legislative agencies would receive $5.3 billion for fiscal year 2024 under H.R. 4364. The total, which doesn’t include Senate funding because each chamber writes its section of the bill, would be $263 million less than in fiscal year 2023.
Senate Side
On Tuesday, the Senate will resume consideration of the nomination of James O’Brien to be the assistant secretary of state for European and Eurasian Affairs. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) has also filed cloture on the nominations of Brendan Hurson as a judge for the District of Maryland and Susan DeClercq as a judge for the Eastern District of Michigan.