PSW Weekly Round-Up - 12/18

Legislative Update

House. The House adjourned for the year on Thursday and is scheduled to re-convene on Tuesday, Jan. 9.

Senate. The Senate was scheduled to adjourn for the year last Friday, but Majority Leader Chuck Schumer opted to keep the Senate in session in the hope that the chamber would approve an emergency supplemental appropriations bill that includes funds for Ukraine and Israel. The biggest stumbling block to an agreement remains language dealing with immigration policy to address the U.S.-Mexico border situation. While negotiators worked over the weekend, an agreement has yet to be nailed down, and it appears unlikely that the Senate will approve a bill this week. Even if the Senate were to act this year, the House does not plan to come back until January.

In the meantime, the Senate will turn to nominations and Schumer is also hoping approval will be given to the promotions of 11 high-ranking military officers who were not part of the package of some 400 military promotions approved earlier this month after an extended delay imposed by Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.).

Also on the Senate agenda is an extension of FAA programs, which are scheduled to expire Dec. 31. On Dec. 11, the House approved an extension of aviation programs through March 8. Last Thursday, Senator Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) objected to a request that the House bill be approved by unanimous consent, arguing that the Senate should stay in session to complete work on the supplemental funding bill for Ukraine and Israel. Bennet doesn’t have a substantive problem with the FAA extension, and the measure is expected to be approved before the Senate adjourns for the year.

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