On Nov. 13, the 115th Congress returned for a lame-duck session to complete their work for this Congress. This will include passing the remaining appropriations bills, which includes the Interior and Environment Appropriations bill, for FY 2019.
However, with the current stop-gap funding measure set to expire on December 7, and several issues – most notably the building of a boarder wall—far from resolved, there is a good chance the remaining appropriations bills may be punted to 2019. The lame duck session could potentially include passing a farm bill, as well, as the current bill expired in September. (Roll Call, 11/13/18)
This week, both the House and Senate have been busy selecting leadership for the next Congress. In the Senate, both Democrats and Republicans have selected their leaders, while in the House only the Republicans have so far.
Senators in both parties are largely sticking with the status quo when it comes to their own elected leaders. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York were easily re-elected to their posts, along with the nine other Democratic leaders, including Minority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Campaign Committee Chair Chris Van Hollen (D-MD).
The GOP had some changes to make, with current Majority Whip John Cornyn (R-TX) term-limited out under conference rules and Colorado Sen. Cory Gardner up for re-election and not seeking another term as National Republican Senatorial Committee chairman. Todd Young of Indiana is stepping into Gardner’s role as campaign committee chief.
As a result, South Dakota GOP Sen. John Thune is moving up from conference chairman to whip, Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY) shifts up into Thune’s former role and Sen. Roy Blunt moves from conference vice chairman to policy chairman, the role being vacated by Barrasso, and Joni Ernst (R-IA) will be the new Conference Vice Chair. Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley will replace Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch as the Senate’s President Pro Tempore, a position that typically goes to the most senior lawmaker and puts him in the line of presidential succession.
In the House, Republicans made their leadership selections this week, including electing Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) as Minority Leader this week and Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA) as Minority Whip. Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY) will be Conference Chairwoman.
Democrats — who will take control of the House in 2019 — are taking a little longer, as Members consider whether or not to make Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) Speaker of the House, among other things. Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-MD) is expected to be Majority Whip, as he remains unchallenged.
