With President Joe Biden’s Democrats set to lose their slender majority in the U.S. House of Representatives in the November 8 midterm elections, and control of the Senate also hangs in the balance, Democrats are seeking a smooth passage a temporary government funding law by September 30 to avoid the partial closure of federal agencies when funds run out at the end of the month.
Congress will have to work quickly. The Snat reopens its doors on Tuesday evening and the Chamber on September 13. But the House is only expected to be in session for 11 days this month and will then be out until November 14 unless plans change.
Republican cooperation will be needed in the Senate for the temporary funding bill that could last until December, and which is needed because the two parties have yet to agree on a dozen bills. regular funding.
Senate Majority Leader, Democrat Chuck Schumer, has also promised to hold a vote on a bill passed by the House of Representatives codifying the right to same-sex marriage.
It is not certain that this bill will have the 10 Republican votes necessary to be adopted. During the August recess, the two parties worked on revisions to the measure, which could improve its prospects, according to a source familiar with the discussions.
HELP UKRAINE, DISASTER FINANCING ON THE TABLE
Many contentious issues could agitate Congress as it grapples with a massive spending bill.
On Friday, Biden requested $47.1 billion in new spending, including $11.7 billion in emergency funds to help Ukraine in its fight against Russian forces and $22.4 billion in COVID relief. -19.
With many parts of the United States suffering from climate change-related flooding, western wildfires and other natural disasters, Mr. Biden has asked for $6.5 billion in aid, as well as $4. 5 billion dollars to deal with an epidemic of monkeypox.
A special House of Representatives committee may hold at least one more hearing as part of its investigation into the January 6, 2021 attack on the US Capitol by supporters of President Donald Trump. A separate investigation into Trump’s handling of classified documents has been in the headlines for months, worrying some Republican candidates about the election fallout.
Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin could step up his push for a bill to reform the way permits are approved for energy infrastructure projects ranging from pipelines to export facilities. It’s a move that some Democrats might worry about because of concerns about climate change.
RATHER OPTIMISTIC DEMOCRATS
As the final two months of the election campaign approach, Democrats in Congress are feeling a little more optimistic about averting massive casualties to Republican challengers on November 8.
Gasoline prices have fallen from highs reached earlier this year and there are signs of a public backlash against the majority conservative Supreme Court’s strike down of abortion rights, which was a party goal Republican for decades.
Democrats won victories this year on grassroots initiatives, such as gun control, capping the price of some prescription drugs and cutting carbon emissions, blamed for causing dangerous climate change.
Nonetheless, Biden’s popularity has suffered from Americans’ economic worries and fatigue from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Republican lawmakers will no doubt spend the next business session hammering out these questions.
“These are tough times for a lot of people,” Republican Senator Mitt Romney said in a statement last week. “With record inflation, we are seeing rising prices for food, electricity, gasoline, and more.”