House Lawmakers Prioritize Stopgap Funding Bill Upon Return to Washington
POLICY WIRE — Washington, D.C. — House lawmakers returned to Washington on Monday following a five-week break in their home districts, with a concise agenda. Their primary task is likely to be voting...
POLICY WIRE — Washington, D.C. — House lawmakers returned to Washington on Monday following a five-week break in their home districts, with a concise agenda. Their primary task is likely to be voting on a stopgap spending bill aimed at fully funding the federal government until early December, thereby averting a shutdown ahead of the midterm elections.
As election season commences, votes are anticipated on measures intended to bolster the GOP’s messaging strategy leading up to November, particularly a resolution condemning socialism. Republicans aim to link the Democratic Party to democratic socialist candidates who have been successful in recent elections.
“The first thing is we’ve got to make sure this government gets funded and we don’t have another Democratic shutdown,” Speaker Mike Johnson stated as he prepared to open the chamber for business. The funding vote is expected to occur on Tuesday.
One notable item absent from the House schedule this week is a Senate-passed bill imposing sanctions on key segments of the Russian economy and allowing President Donald Trump to impose steep tariffs on goods imported from countries that predominantly buy Russian oil and gas. This effort, spearheaded by the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, seeks to cut off Russian President Vladimir Putin’s revenue used to finance the war against Ukraine.
The bill passed the Senate with an 86-11 vote. If the House passes it, the bill will be sent to Trump’s desk for his signature. However, some key House Democrats oppose the bill, with Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries expressing serious concerns. He stated that the legislation risks providing Trump and his administration with new sanction and tariff authorities that “we believe they will abuse.”
The return to Washington also highlights improper behavior by lawmakers, as the House will consider a House Ethics Committee recommendation to censure Rep. Chuck Edwards, R-N.C., for persistent unprofessional and inappropriate conduct toward two young female aides in his congressional office.
Edwards disputes the committee’s conclusion that he failed to adhere to the rules prohibiting sexual harassment and unwanted advances toward House staffers. He emphasizes that the committee found no evidence he “engaged in sexual activity or explicitly propositioned any individual under his employ.”
Edwards argues that individual acts, which were not themselves prohibited, were collectively used to support a conclusion more serious than the underlying evidence. The committee detailed that Edwards provided the staffers with lavish and recurrent gifts, made comments about their dress and appearance, invited them to intimate dinners and vacations, and sent notes expressing his effusive affection.
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A vote to censure signifies the House’s strong disapproval of a lawmaker’s conduct without meeting the threshold for expulsion. Edwards withdrew his reelection plans following the committee’s report.
The short-term funding bill saw significant changes in the Senate, making it more acceptable to Democrats. It delays a proposed rule from the Office of Management and Budget that would grant political appointees more power over the distribution of federal grants. It also includes language to prevent the administration from transferring funds to the Border Patrol.
However, a provision delaying a federal ban on intoxicating hemp THC products for one month has drawn criticism from many GOP lawmakers. Consequently, GOP leaders are likely to fast-track the bill, avoiding a separate procedural vote and bypassing any Republican efforts to block or stall the legislation. Suspension bills require a two-thirds vote to pass, necessitating significant support from both parties for it to advance to Trump’s desk.
Lawmakers are keen to prevent a shutdown as voters prepare for the November elections. The funding bill passed the Senate with a 90-6 vote, indicating a bipartisan desire to avoid a repeat of the two historic shutdowns that occurred this past year.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
