December 16 Deadline Rapidly Approaches
Key Dates
December 15, 2022 – Target Adjournment of 117th Congress: 6 days
December 16, 2022 – Continuing Resolution Expires: 7 days
January 3, 2023 – Swearing-in of 118th Congress: 25 days
The news this week focused on the limited amount of time left this Congress before the new one begins January 3. Here’s what you might have missed this week:
Negotiations on FY23 Spending Bill Continue. Amid an impasse, Senate and House Appropriations Chairs Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) and Patrick Leahy (D-VT) are introducing their own omnibus bills Monday. However, Republicans have rejected it out-of-hand. It is looking almost certain that a short-term continuing resolution (CR) will be passed before this current iteration lapses December 16. Many are beginning to discuss the possibility of a year-long CR, which the Department of Defense has said would dramatically impact military readiness and national security.
However, the fact remains that Democrats and Republicans have yet to agree on a topline number, with Republicans holding firm that there should not be increases in domestic spending.
House Passes NDAA. The House passed the FY23 National Defense Authorization Act 350-80. The bill is a record $858 billion, $45 billion more than what was proposed by President Joe Biden. The bill’s executive summary can be found here. The Senate is expected to pass the NDAA next week, sending it to the White House for President Biden to sign into law.
Warnock Win Reelection; Sinema Becomes an Independent. On Tuesday, Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-GA) was reelected by over three points against former Heisman winner Herschel Walker (R), giving Senate Democrats a 51-49 majority.
However, this morning, Democratic Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (AZ) announced that she had switched her party affiliation from Democrat to Independent. However, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) just announced that she will keep her committee assignments through the Democrats. While this does not impact the balance of power in the Senate, it nominally kicks off the 2024 Senate race in Arizona, as the state Democratic Party is enraged by the move. It is worth monitoring if she shifts further throughout this coming year.
