US Congress Returns Amid Lame-Duck Session

The US Congress returned to Washington on Monday, after a hiatus since the midterm elections, with Republicans seeking to utilize their remaining time in control of both the House and Senate. With the Democratic Party set to take over in January, Republicans are working to pass as much legislation as possible and confirm President Donald Trump's appointments. This push comes as the current congressional term is set to end on January 3.

Republican senators, including Rick Scott, are urging colleagues to stay in Washington through the end of the year, including during holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas. They aim to finalize key files, such as funding for the Defense Department and avoiding a government shutdown. Some Republicans also support using the reconciliation process to pass financial legislation without facing Democratic filibusters.

A significant challenge facing Congress is avoiding a government shutdown, with current funding set to expire on December 11. To address this, leaders of the House and Senate Appropriations committees plan to meet to negotiate a funding agreement. However, talks stalled over the summer due to disagreements on defense spending and domestic programs.

In addition to legislative priorities, the Senate is preparing to vote on a package of Trump appointments, with Republicans pushing to confirm as many judges as possible before losing their majority. The Senate must consider each judicial nominee separately, which can be time-consuming. Organizations like the Third Circuit Project are urging Republicans to fill around 24 judicial vacancies.

Despite having a 53-47 majority in the Senate, Republicans face challenges in passing legislation due to internal dynamics. The party's majority will shrink further when Senator John Husted's term ends on December 15, and Senator Chris Murphy will be absent for several weeks due to medical rehabilitation.

The House of Representatives is also set to vote on a resolution to impeach Secretary of Defense Pete Herseyth, introduced by Representative Thomas Massie. The Democratic leadership has expressed support for the measure, which could pass with Democratic votes and some Republican support.

The coming weeks are expected to be busy, with the possibility of a Supreme Court vacancy and debates over Trump's appointments. Senator Tim Kaine predicts a hectic schedule, while Majority Leader John Thune has not decided whether to keep Congress in session during holidays.

Key points

• Republicans are racing to pass legislation and confirm Trump appointments before Democrats take control of Congress in January.
• Avoiding a government shutdown is a pressing concern, with current funding expiring on December 11.
• The Senate is working to confirm Trump's judicial nominees before Republicans lose their majority.