Becker’s Washington Weekly: Week of December 2

Congress Pivots to 2025

Lawmakers return to Washington this week for their last working period of the year before breaking for the Holidays and swearing in a new Congress in early January.

Congress still needs to pass a government funding bill by December 20th to avoid a shutdown, in addition to passing key defense and farm program reauthorizations, which are at risk of lapsing by the end of the year.

In the meantime, this week, Senators will consider a slate of judicial nominees while the House will take up several bills under expedited procedures. A majority of the bills deal with federal courts and post office designations, while others would create a Justice Department trade crime initiative, reauthorize federal drug control and conservation programs, and streamline agencies’ software management.

Lawmakers will also participate in several committee hearings this week, including the following:

• The House Financial Services Committee will discuss how technology will shape the future of finance
• The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee will examine the public health impacts of PFAS exposure
• The House Coronavirus Committee will discuss lessons learned from the pandemic
• The Senate Foreign Relations Committee will discuss the implementation of global Magnitsky laws