This Week in Congress

Over the weekend, a bipartisan deal was reached on another continuing resolution (CR) giving appropriators more time to write the FY24 funding bills and will adhere to the topline deal that Speaker Johnson cut with Senate Majority Leader Schumer. That topline is effectively the Fiscal Responsibility Act with an additional $16 billion cut. The new CRs extends funding until:

• March 1st for four appropriations bills: Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies; Energy and Water Development; Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies; and Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies; and
• March 8th for the remaining eight appropriations bills: Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies; Defense; Financial Services and General Government; Homeland Security; Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies; Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies; Legislative Branch; and State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs.

On Tuesday, the Senate began procedural votes on the CR, and it will require cooperation among the 100 senators to pass it before the next round of deadlines.  Whether the House follows suit on the stopgap measure remains to be seen this week as some Members of the House Republican Caucus are opposed to the temporary spending plan.

Republican Reps. Pence (IN), Bucshon (IN), and Lamborn (CO) announced they would not run for reelection. To date, that makes 22 departing Democrats and 17 Republicans, who have opted not to serve another term in Congress.