The Senate Judiciary Committee is scheduled to wrap later today its third and last day of questioning of U.S. Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett. During the hearing earlier this morning, the committee agreed to officially vote on her nomination next Thursday, October 22, at 1 PM ET.
Category: Congressional To Do
Senate Schedule Scrambled
With a flood of COVID-19-related developments unfolding over the weekend in our nation’s capital, the Senate schedule has been scrambled for at least the next several weeks.
As at least three GOP Senators have tested positive for the illness– Thom Tillis of North Carolina, Mike Lee of Utah, and Ron Johnson of Wisconsin– and a number of others are in quarantine as a result of exposure to them, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell announced that Senate floor activities would be postponed at least until the week of October 19. However, he added that the confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett would take place as scheduled the week of October 12. Both Tillis and Lee are members of the Judiciary, which will consider the nomination.
Even if the hearings can take place next week– most likely virtually for several Senators– it remains to be seen when votes on the nomination might actually take place in the committee and on the floor, as a quorum must be present for votes to take place. Democrats have argued that it makes no sense to proceed while the floor proceedings are halted.
Senate Democrats Unveil America LEADS Act
Today, Senate Democrats introduced the America Labor, Economic competitiveness, Alliances, Democracy and Security (America LEADS) Act which is aimed at bolstering the US economy in order to compete with China.
The bill would invest over $350 billion in American businesses, manufacturing communities, federal research and development, STEM education, and training programs. It also expands the Manufacturing USA Network, renews the US diplomatic strategy towards China and Indo-Pacific partners, and takes action on human rights issues in Tibet, Hong Kong, and Xinjiang.
The press release is here and a one-page summary is here.
The bill has not yet passed in the Senate. It would then need to pass in the House and be signed into law by the President.
House Passes Continuing Resolution
The House passed a continuing resolution (“CR”), H.R. 8337, to fund the Federal Government through December 11th, 2020 and avoid a potential shutdown. The bipartisan resolution passed 359-57 and is part of a deal reached by House Democrats, Senate Republicans, and the Administration. The CR must still pass in the Senate and be signed by the President. The full story is available here.
As of now, all 12 FY 2021 appropriations bills have passed in the House, but none have passed in the Senate, indicating a likely long road ahead.
And Then There Were Two
Earlier today, the House finished debate on and passed the second “minibus” of FY2021 spending bills. The passage of H. R. 7617, which is made up of six bills, leaves two bills for further action, Homeland Security and Legislative Branch.