Join WhatsApp Channel
The US House of Representatives is set to return August 31 post a five-week recess, with preventing another government shutdown being at the top of its agenda as lawmakers face a September 30 funding deadline and prepare for another week-long break for Labor Day, reports CBS News.
The House is expected to move quickly on a short-term funding bill. In July, lawmakers passed a Republican-led measure that would have extended government funding at current levels until December 4, but the proposal met opposition in the Senate.
The Senate instead approved a bipartisan bill in early August that would keep the government funded until December 11.
Its provisions include closing a loophole that Democrats said allows the Trump administration to redirect funds toward Border Patrol and temporarily preventing political appointees from cancelling federal grants.
Those provisions could make it easier for Democrats to support a temporary funding measure in the House. Only six Democrats backed the House proposal in July, in part because it did not eliminate funding for Border Patrol.
Rep. Rosa DeLauro, the top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, argued that the omission could allow the administration to shift money intended for other parts of Customs and Border Protection toward Border Patrol. Democrats have opposed additional funding for the agency over the Trump administration’s immigration and deportation policies.
House Republican leaders are planning to fast-track a vote, but the legislation would require significant Democratic support because it must secure a two-thirds majority to pass under the procedure being considered.
The House’s return will also bring members back to Capitol Hill for the first time since the Ethics Committee disclosed investigations involving two lawmakers.
Republican Rep. Max Miller of Ohio is under investigation over allegations of domestic violence and drug use, while Democratic Rep. Jimmy Gomez of California is facing allegations of sexual misconduct. Both have denied the allegations.
The bipartisan Ethics Committee has also recommended censuring Republican Rep. Chuck Edwards of North Carolina after concluding that he engaged in “persistent unprofessional and inappropriate conduct towards two young female staffers.”
The panel said it found no evidence that Edwards “engaged in sexual activity with or explicitly propositioned any individual under his employ.”
Although Edwards’ campaign said the findings “completely exonerate” him under House rules, he ended his re-election campaign days later. The House could vote as soon as this week on a resolution formally censuring him.
Republicans are also preparing a symbolic vote on a resolution condemning socialism “in all its forms.”
The move comes as a number of democratic socialist candidates have gained support in Democratic primaries. House Speaker Mike Johnson, campaigning in Texas last week, warned that “socialism is a road to ruin.”
“They don’t understand that socialism is a step to get to communism,” the Louisiana Republican said.
The four-page resolution specifically references Zohran Mamdani’s victory in the New York City mayoral election and other candidates associated with the Democratic Socialists of America.
The measure also reiterates Republican support for the SAVE America Act, legislation backed by Trump that would impose additional voter eligibility requirements but has remained stalled in the Senate.
Republicans will return with a slightly narrower majority. The Democratic caucus is expected to gain two new members after special elections fill vacancies left by Democratic Reps. Eric Swalwell of California and David Scott of Georgia.
Swalwell resigned in April after allegations of sexual assault, which also ended his campaign for California governor. Scott died about a week later, leaving another vacancy.
Aisha Wahab won the August 18 special election to complete Swalwell’s term, while Everton Blair won the August 25 election to serve the remainder of Scott’s term.
Once both are sworn in, Democrats will hold 214 seats to Republicans’ 219, leaving the GOP with a two-seat margin in the House.
Related posts:
Democrats End 43-Day Shutdown Battle as Political Blame Game Shifts to the House
How the Shutdown Began and How it Ended with a Bipartisan Approach
Opinion: The Biggest Challenge for Democrats
White House Blames Democrats as Federal Shutdown Enters Sixth Day, Warns of Delayed Paychecks for Workers and Troops
