House departs without resolving spending bill drama for six-week recess.
The House Adjourns for August Recess, Leaving Behind a Lengthy To-Do List
The House of Representatives made an unexpected early departure on Thursday, beginning its six-week August recess despite having a lot of unfinished business and ongoing negotiations over crucial spending legislation. Originally, lawmakers were supposed to leave Washington, D.C., on Friday after voting on the agriculture bill. However, due to the bill not making it to the floor for a vote, plans were changed. House leaders have stated that they will continue working during the break, but it remains uncertain whether they will meet in person.
Lawmakers Determined to Get the Job Done
When asked about the schedule change, Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) responded, ”I don’t know, I don’t set the schedule. But I think we ought to do whatever it takes to get our job done.”
Before leaving town, the House managed to pass its military construction appropriations bill, making progress on just one of the 12 must-pass spending bills. This leaves Congress with only 18 days to pass the budget and avoid a government shutdown.
Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) remains confident that the House can pass all of its appropriations bills before the September 30 deadline. During a press conference on Thursday, he scolded reporters for doubting Republicans’ ability to advance legislation, saying, “You’ve asked me that same question almost every single week, and we’ve proven every single week that we’ll do it.”
However, McCarthy faces challenges within his own conference as members of the House Freedom Caucus demand significant spending cuts. Some have even threatened to withdraw their support if their demands are not met. This sets the House on a collision course with Senate Democrats, who are likely proposing larger budgets.
In an effort to find common ground, McCarthy met with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) on Thursday to discuss how the two chambers can collaborate on appropriations and other crucial bills. The details of their conversation were not disclosed.
Controversy Surrounding the Agriculture Appropriations Bill
Meanwhile, the fate of the agriculture appropriations bill remains uncertain. House Republicans are divided over a provision that would ban the Biden administration’s rule allowing abortion pills to be sold through the mail and in retail pharmacies. Several moderate Republicans have joined Democrats in opposing this provision, threatening to vote against the bill if it includes the ban.
Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY) expressed his stance, stating, “I have said from the very beginning that I would not support legislation that would ban abortion nationwide. Some of these issues should be dealt with at the state level, and that’s it. Some states allow it to be mailed, some states don’t. But that should be a decision made by the states and the FDA.”
Democrats, on the other hand, accuse Republicans of jeopardizing the appropriations process and bypassing bipartisan agreements, potentially leading to a government shutdown. Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) criticized the extreme wing of the Republican Party, claiming they have “hijacked” every appropriations bill and are pushing for a nationwide ban on abortion.
The Race Against Time
Congress must pass its annual budget by the end of September before the new fiscal year begins on October 1, or else a government shutdown looms. Budget disagreements often drag on as both parties fight for their priorities, with a final deal typically reached at the last minute after a lengthy voting session.
In some cases, lawmakers agree to pass a continuing resolution, allowing the government to operate at the same spending levels until a new agreement is reached. However, some hard-line conservatives have already ruled out this option, stating that they are not afraid of enforcing a government shutdown to ensure the budget’s passage.
Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) firmly stated, “I will not vote for a CR, I will not vote for a rule for a CR, I will not help advance a CR in any way, shape, or form unless H.R. 2 is signed into law, [Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro] Mayorkas is gone, or something damn close to that.”
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