Democrats return from the Thanksgiving holiday this week with a lengthy list of priorities to get through before they relinquish control of the lower chamber next year – from codifying same-sex marriage to funding the government.
The “lame-duck” session is well underway with only a few weeks remaining before a divided government makes legislating much more difficult. And even with a string of legislative achievements earlier this year for Democrats – and after a better-than-expected showing in the midterm elections – the coming weeks are shaping up to be a slog.
“We are going to try to have as productive a lame-duck session as possible,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York said at a press conference following the election. “It’s going to be heavy work, long hours to try and get much done.”
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Up first this week – and perhaps among the easiest lift for Democrats – is the likely passage of the Respect for Marriage Act, which garnered support from all Democrats in the Senate and 12 Republicans earlier this month and would protect same-sex and interracial marriages in the event that landmark cases in the future go the way of abortion at the Supreme Court. The bill’s passage, Schumer has said, is no longer a matter of if, but when.
Meanwhile, lawmakers are eyeing a looming spending fight, with a Dec. 16 deadline to fund the government to avert a shutdown. But whether lawmakers punt that debate with a continuing resolution or opt for a full-year appropriations deal remains to be seen. And another key procedural deadline, to reauthorize the National Defense Authorization Act that determines military funding is also fast approaching.
Democrats are also mulling whether to address the debt limit before Republicans take control of the House next year, after some have warned that the GOP will “hold the debt limit hostage” as they look to reform Social Security and Medicare programs.
Another legislative priority that will likely see movement in the coming weeks is a revision to the Electoral Count Act to clarify the vice president’s role in certifying election results as purely ceremonial. The bipartisan legislation is billed as an effort to avoid another event like the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol. But different versions of the bill in each chamber could messy its road to passage as the clock ticks on the lame-duck session.
Securing additional funding for Ukraine has also become a priority for many lawmakers – and the White House – after some House Republicans signaled waning interest in continuing the steady stream of financial support. The Biden administration had also urged lawmakers to approve additional funding for COVID-19, but efforts have stalled in recent months.
Indeed, a number of priorities may not be seen through before the sun sets on the current Congress, including ensuring protections for migrants brought to the U.S. illegally as children, reviving the expanded child tax credit and cannabis legislation.
Senate Democrats had also mulled taking up a ban on assault weapons passed by the House earlier this year, especially in light of recent mass shootings. Last week, President Joe Biden reiterated his calls to “get rid of assault weapons.” But Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut suggested on Sunday that the bill does not have the 60 votes needed in the upper chamber.
“Let’s see if we can try to get that number as close to 60 as possible,” Murphy added on CNN’s “State of the Union” on Sunday. “If we don’t have the votes, then we’ll talk to Senator Schumer and maybe come back next year with maybe an additional senator and see if we can do better.”
Although Democrats have already attained a narrow majority in the Senate, an upcoming runoff election in Georgia could strengthen that majority, giving Democrats one more seat than they currently hold and perhaps taking some power away from individuals like Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia, who has at times derailed his caucus’ legislative agenda. Even so, a Democratic majority still faces a 60-vote threshold to approve most legislation, requiring them to work with their Republican colleagues.
On the House side, though control of the chamber has been solidified, its leadership is still taking shape. While House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy of California has secured his party’s nomination for House speaker, he’s still looking to shore up support for the chamber-wide vote in January. And House Democrats are set to hold their leadership elections this week, after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California announced she would step down to usher in a “new generation.”
