Democrats and Republicans are returning to the Capitol today after a weeklong break to celebrate the Fourth of July. But they appear to be more focused on the midterm elections rather than on moving legislation. Hopes have dimmed that Congress will get much done this year since they only have 29 legislative days left in 2014, and the majority of that time will be in the next four weeks.
It is possible, however, that they may find the political will to get a few things done between now and the August recess. Some prospects include veterans healthcare (in light of the recent VA scandals), funding for highway and bridge projects, and maybe a couple of FY 2015 appropriations bills.
House Republicans will use July to continue moving spending bills through the committee process and onto the floor, though it remains unclear if they’ll succeed in advancing all 12 appropriations bills before the end of the fiscal year on September 30th. The House will continue to move forward this week, with the chamber scheduled to consider its FY 2015 Energy-Water appropriations bill as early as Wednesday. Passage of this sixth appropriations measure would put the House halfway to completion of all 12 annual bills. The Senate, however, has yet to pass any of its spending bills and chances are slim that they will complete any before the August recess.
December’s bipartisan budget deal between Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) and Representative Paul Ryan (R-WI) has established a top-line figure that many think will grease the process, even as some members on the far left and far right are pushing back. Congress has until October 1st to act to prevent another shutdown, and the debate over appropriations will extend beyond the August recess and likely push up against that deadline. If the sides can’t agree on individual spending bills, they’ll likely pursue a shorter-term stopgap measure – a so-called continuing resolution – to take them at least into the lame-duck session after the November elections.