Legislative Update
Senate. The Senate and House are returning to session this week for three weeks before leaving to campaign in October. The Senate will, of course, continue to consider nominations this week. As for the longer-term Senate agenda, Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said in a Dear Colleague letter yesterday that the Senate this month will not only vote on nominations but will also act on a continuing resolution (CR) to avoid a government shutdown on Oct. 1.
House. The House will take the first step this week to advance a CR, with consideration of a Republican proposal that would extend government funding through March 28, 2025. The measure also includes the SAVE Act, which would require individuals to show documentation of U.S. citizenship when they register to vote. Democrats note that it is already against the law for noncitizens to vote in federal elections. House and Senate Democrats (as well as some Republicans) would like to wrap up the 2025 appropriations bills in December instead of kicking the matter into March of next year. In a fact sheet released today, the White House detailed its opposition to the House CR and threatened a veto in a separate statement. The House plans to vote Tuesday on the rule to consider the CR and, if the rule is approved, will vote Wednesday on the CR.
Aside from action on the CR, this is “China week” in the House, with votes on numerous China-related measures. These include a bill that would prevent electric vehicles with batteries supplied by Chinese companies from receiving the tax credit for new EVs. Members will also take a suspension vote on the Biosecure Act, which would prohibit federal agencies from entering into contracts, grants, or loans with five biotechnology companies that have ties to China. A two-thirds majority is needed for votes under suspension of the rules.
Committee Action of Note
Monday, September 9
Tuesday, September 10
Wednesday, September 11
Thursday, September 12
Political Update
New Jersey Senate. Democratic Governor Phil Murphy has chosen his former chief of staff, George Helmy, to temporarily replace Senator Bob Menendez, who resigned Aug. 20. Helmy will be sworn in today and will resign after the election results are certified in the November race that pits Rep. Andy Kim (D) against Curtis Bashaw (R). The results are scheduled to be certified Nov. 27, and Gov. Murphy will then appoint the winner of that race, which is expected to be Kim, to the Senate seat.
Helmy served as Murphy’s chief of staff from 2019 until 2023 and currently serves as an executive at one of the state’s largest health care providers, RWJBarnabas Health. He previously served as Democratic Senator Cory Booker’s state director and also worked for former Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.). Because he will serve for such a short period, Helmy is expected to take Menendez’s seats on the Finance, Foreign Relations, and Banking committees.
New Jersey House. Following the Aug. 21 death of Rep. Bill Pascrell (D), state Democratic officials on Aug. 29 selected state Senator Nellie Pou to replace him on the November ballot. Pou is expected to prevail over Republican Billy Prempeh in November for the 9th District seat. Pou succeeded Pascrell in the state Assembly in 1997 after he won his seat in Congress, and she was elected to the state Senate in 2012. Rep. Steven Horsford (D-Nev.), who had to relinquish his spot on the Ways and Means Committee in 2023 when Republicans gained the majority, is in line to take Pascrell’s seat on the panel.
Tuesday Primaries. In a closely watched contest, the Democratic primary in New Hampshire’s 2nd District pits Colin Van Ostern against Maggie Goodlander in a race to fill the seat of Democratic Rep. Annie Kuster, who is retiring. Goodlander is a former senior White House aide in the Biden Administration and the wife of National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan. Van Ostern is a former Democratic gubernatorial nominee and is Kuster’s handpicked successor. The seat is likely to remain Democratic in November.
In Delaware, state Senator Sarah McBride is favored to win the Democratic race for the at-large House seat now held by Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester (D). Rochester is unopposed in the Democratic Senate primary and is expected to prevail in the November contest to succeed retiring Senator Tom Carper (D). There are also primaries in Rhode Island.
The House Republican Steering Committee this week is recommending leaders to helm committees in 2025.
Read MoreThe House and Senate have limited legislative agendas this week as they move toward a target adjournment date of December 20. To fill two House vacancies, Florida will hold special elections on April 1.
Read MoreBoth chambers are in session this week, but action will pick up dramatically when they return in December from the Thanksgiving break.
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