This Week in Congress

Congress is undertaking an extensive legislative agenda amid elevated tensions in the weeks preceding year-end. A significant driver of this tension is the impending expiration of enhanced Affordable Care Act premium tax credits, with substantial disagreement between Republicans in both chambers regarding their extension. Senate Democrats intend to propose a three-year extension; however, it is unlikely to secure sufficient support.

Speaker Johnson (R-LA) and Senate Majority Leader Thune (R-SD) face the complex task of advancing the annual defense authorization bill. The recently released version authorizes nearly $901 billion in discretionary spending for national security initiatives and imposes restrictions on investments in sensitive Chinese industries. Speaker Johnson must navigate internal caucus dynamics to avoid unified Democratic opposition, while Senate Majority Leader Thune needs to maintain enough Democratic backing to meet the 60-vote threshold necessary for procedural advancement of the bill.

This week, the Senate conducted votes on expiring healthcare subsidies and approved a substantial group of Trump administration nominees. Meanwhile, the House deliberated on capital formation legislation and the National Defense Authorization Act.