117th Congress: The Final Countdown
Congress returns for its final working week of the year to pass a year-long, roughly $1.7 trillion government funding bill before December 23rd to avert a government shutdown. Lawmakers had passed a short-term extension of last week’s funding deadline to provide more time for negotiations.
House and Senate leaders have since agreed to topline funding levels and are expected to release a draft omnibus bill early in the week which must be passed by December 23rd to avert a shutdown. Doing so will offer a “clean slate” on government funding to House Republicans who will take control of the Chamber next month.
Apart from confirming various Administration and judicial nominees in the Senate, passing appropriations will likely be Congress’ last big-ticket item this year. In the meantime, both parties will assign their members to various committees for the 118th Congress. With the House flipping to Republican control next year, those committees are expected to conduct vigorous oversight of various Biden Administration policies.