Lawmakers prepare for final lame-duck sprint before making way for next Congress

Source: ABC News/AP

November 11, 2024, 12:11 PM


WASHINGTON -- Keeping the federal government open. Providing more disaster aid. Passing a defense policy bill. And for Senate Democrats, confirming more judges. It's a short but important to-do list as Congress returns to Washington this week to begin what is known as a lame-duck session — that period between Election Day and the end of the two-year congressional term.

Republicans are anxious to turn the page and move on to next year when they'll have control of the White House and possibly both chambers of Congress, while Democrats hope to get in as many of their priorities as they can while they still have the majority in the Senate.

Here's a look at where things stand going into the final weeks of the tumultuous 118th Congress: Just before lawmakers left Washington in September, they passed a short-term extension of government funding to avoid a shutdown before the election. They still need to pass full-year spending bills for the current fiscal year, or at least another extension, by Dec. 20.

A Republican aide in the House and another in the Senate not authorized to speak publicly about internal planning said it is likely that Congress will pass another short-term extension into early next year rather than complete work on the bills. That's because the two sides still have major differences on spending levels and policy priorities. Also, Republicans have less incentive to negotiate now because they will have control of the White House, Senate and possibly the House come January.

Read more: https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/lawmakers-prepare-final-lame-duck-sprint-making-congress-115738456