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Congress Races to Clear Legislative Backlog Before Lame-Duck Session
· Confirmed
In Short: NBC News reports that Republicans in the House voted to extend the end of their legislative session, while the Senate debated the same measure.
Justthenews and The Center Square report that the Republican-controlled 119th Congress has only eight weeks left to clear a backlog of legislative duties, with Democrats set to take control of both chambers in January.
Shelby News and Worthynews add that Republicans have only 20 legislative days left to pass bills that align with their agenda, urging them to 'lock in America First wins.'
According to Worthynews, the administration split the defense budget into two measures: $1.15 trillion and a more urgent $350 billion, a move not cleared with top GOP lawmakers.
Variety reports that both the Assembly and state Senate passed a bill, SB 186, before the end-of-session deadline, allowing studios to redeem tax credits for cash in two years instead of five.
Breakingdefense suggests that Republicans may make a last-ditch effort to pass defense funding during the lame-duck session, but they might not have the numbers to get a simple majority if departing Republicans do not show up.
NBC News reports that Republicans in the House voted to extend the end of their legislative session, while the Senate debated the same measure, with South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson calling it a 'missed opportunity.'
Wunc reports that legislative leaders say their next voting session will begin Nov. 16, after lawmakers spend the next few months campaigning in their districts.
Elpasomatters notes that Democratic gubernatorial candidate Gina Hinojosa called for an emergency legislative session to address data center developments, criticizing Abbott’s approach.
Ewtnnews reports that Democrats are considering two abortion-related bills for the first 100 hours of the 2027 legislative session: one to legalize abortion nationwide and one to allow federal tax funds for abortion.
Despite disagreements on specific measures, all publications agree that the Republican-controlled Congress faces a tight deadline to address a backlog of legislative tasks before Democrats take control in January.
What this adds
The upcoming lame-duck session, beginning Nov. 16, will see Democrats with significant legislative power, allowing them to set an agenda for 2028 and potentially pursue impeachment.
Background
The upcoming lame-duck session, beginning Nov. 16, will see Democrats with significant legislative power, allowing them to set an agenda for 2028 and potentially pursue impeachment.
The lame-duck session, beginning Monday, is the last chance for Senate Republicans to move key priorities before Democrats take control of the Senate in 2027.
What's confirmed
- The Republican-controlled 119th Congress is facing a backlog of legislative duties it can no longer ignore – yet it has only eight weeks left in session until Democrats take the helm in both chambers.
- While all of the legislative tasks are supposed to be bipartisan, Democrats’ monumental wins in the midterm elections will likely complicate already tense negotiations around national defense spending, farm support, government funding and more.
- That bill, the BUILD America 250 Act, cleared the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee in May but has seen no floor action.
What's still developing
- The HTF funds the maintenance, repair and building of U.S.
- An identical was agreed by the House of Commons in June last year but did not complete all its legislative stages in the House of Lords by the end of the parliamentary session, meaning that it fell and did not become law.
- WASHINGTON — Republicans are under the gun to pass defense funding during the lame duck session following a crippling loss in midterm elections, but first they’ll have to square off against emboldened Democrats seeking to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and curb the Iran war.
- Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Rushikesh Patel gave this information in the Gujarat Assembly on the final day of the three-day monsoon session on a demand raised by four Congress MLAs, on the steps taken to declare a drought.
- A resolution that would have extended the state’s legislative session, set to end this week, to tackle redistricting fell short of the two-thirds support needed, with five Republicans voting against it.
- With the legislative session due to end Thursday afternoon, lawmakers needed more time to complete the multistep process of passing a new map.
- Every Tuesday, we deliver the latest updates on election policy around the country, including nationwide trends and recent legislative activity.
- Five state legislatures are in regular or special sessions.
- The California Legislature passed a bill Monday night, as the legislative session neared its midnight deadline, to allow film and television studios a few key exemptions from a recently enacted statewide restriction on corporate tax credits.
- Hinojosa criticized Abbott’s approach but offered few specifics Monday about what regulations she would seek beyond calling lawmakers into a special session.