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March 17, 2025 Update
[New information bolded and italicized]The House narrowly approved the full year Continuing Resolution (CR) in a 217-213 vote on March 11. The Senate then had three days to avert government shutdown, which House Speaker Mike Johnson hoped would force Senators into action on an unpopular, partisan CR. He got his wish when enough Democrats voted to proceed to a final vote, a step which required 60 votes. The vote was controversial, with the Democrats’ divisions represented by Senate Democratic leader Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) first saying he would block consideration of the vote and then changing his mind. Ten Democrats and independents voted with the Republicans in favor of cloture, arguing that a shuttered government would provide President Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s DOGE operation more of an opportunity to fire people, shut down agencies and block the work of the government. On the final 54-46 vote in favor of the measure, only Sens. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Angus King (I-ME) voted in favor with most Republicans. Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) was the only Republican to oppose the bill. While the bill had few national security provisions, it boosted defense spending by $6 billion while cutting non-defense spending by $13 billion from current levels and shifted $185 million from non-proliferation to weapons programs at the National Nuclear Security Administration. That shift impacts most of the national laboratories and efforts to ensure nuclear materials safety, among other things. Both houses of Congress are in recess this week. However, work has begun on fiscal year 2026 appropriations and defense authorization. Stay tuned to this space as we bring you updates on hearings and action related to those topics in the coming weeks!
Tentative 2024 Congressional Recess Schedule*When noted that both the Senate and House are in session, the House and Senate schedules may diverge by a day or two* March 17 – March 21: Congressional Recess March 24 – April 11: Both Senate and House largely in session April 14 – April 25: Congressional Recess April 28 – May 23: Both Senate and House largely in session May 26: Memorial Day June 2 – June 27: Both Senate and House largely in session June 19: Juneteenth federal holiday July 4: Independence Day federal holiday July 7 – July 31: Both Senate and House largely in session August 4 – August 29: Congressional Recess September 1: Labor Day September 2 – September 19: Both Senate and House largely in session September 22 – September 26: Congressional Recess September 29 – November 7: Both Senate and House largely in session October 1 – November 7: Both Senate and House largely in session October 13: Columbus Day November 3 – November 7: Both Senate and House largely in session November 10 – November 14: Congressional Recess November 11: Veterans’ Day November 17- November 21: Both Senate and House in session November 24 – November 28: Congressional Recess November 27: Thanksgiving December 1- December 19: Both Senate and House largely in session December 19: Target Congressional adjournment |
