This Week in Congress: Avoiding a Gov’t Shutdown, Ending Forced Arbitration, and Funding Minority-Serving Colleges

Congress is set to begin the process of passing a short-term, stopgap funding bill to avoid a partial government shutdown on October 1st and give lawmakers more time to craft bipartisan spending bills.

The Senate starts its week Monday with a procedural vote on the nomination of the U.S. ambassador to the United Arab Emirates in advance of a likely confirmation vote Tuesday. It may then take up several other executive branch nominations, including the ambassador to Sweden, or a bill to help the Democratic Republic of Congo combat an Ebola virus outbreak. If the House passes a short-term spending bill this week, the Senate may take procedural steps to start its consideration of the bill.

The House convenes on Tuesday, when it will consider a reauthorization of funds for historically minority-serving colleges and universities and several consumer product safety bills ― including a bill to prevent dressers from tipping over on children. Later in the week, the House will take up bills to end forced arbitration agreements and require regulators to advise banks to work with customers who may be affected by a government shutdown. The House is also expected to take up a short-term funding bill to avoid a shutdown on October 1st at some point this week, but as of Sunday afternoon the legislation hasn’t been introduced.

Check here throughout the week to see the vote results and updates to the schedule.

Schedule subject to change. All times Eastern.

SENATE

Monday after 5:30pm

• Cloture motion on the nomination of John Rakolta, Jr. to be Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates Invoked 55-27.

Tuesday after 12pm

• Confirmation vote on the nomination of John Rakolta, Jr. to be Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates Confirmed 63-30.
• Cloture motion on the nomination of Kenneth Howery to be Ambassador to the Kingdom of Sweden Invoked 63-29.
• Confirmation vote on the nomination of Kenneth Howery to be Ambassador to the Kingdom of Sweden Confirmed 62-32.
• Cloture motion on the nomination of Brian Callanan to be General Counsel for the Treasury Dept. Invoked 55-37.
• Cloture motion on the nomination of Brent McIntosh to be an Undersecretary of the Treasury Invoked 54-40.
• Cloture motion on the nomination of Robert Destro to be Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy & Human Rights Invoked 49-44.

Wednesday after 11am

• Confirmation vote on the nomination of Robert Destro to be Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy & Human Rights Confirmed 49-44.
• Confirmation vote on the nomination of Brent McIntosh to be an Undersecretary of the Treasury Confirmed 54-38.
• Confirmation vote on the nomination of Brian Callanan to be General Counsel for the Treasury Dept. Confirmed 55-39.
• Cloture motion on the motion to proceed to H.R. 2740: Minibus Appropriations Not invoked 51-44.
• Motion to invoke cloture on the compound motion to go to conference on S. 1790: National Defense Authorization Act, FY2020 Invoked 87-7.

Thursday after 12pm

• Cloture motion on the nomination of Brian McGuire to be a Deputy Under Secretary of the Treasury Vote postponed.

HOUSE

Tuesday after 6:30pm (under suspension of the rules)

• Republican motion to instruct conferees on S. 1790: National Defense Authorization Act, FY2020 Failed 198-219.
• Motion to close portions of the conference on S. 1790: National Defense Authorization Act, FY2020 Adopted 407-4.
• H.R. 2486: FUTURE Act, as amended Passed by voice vote.
• H.R. 2211: STURDY Act Passed by voice vote.
• H.R. 2134: Helen Keller National Center Reauthorization Act of 2019, as amended Passed by voice vote.
• H.R. 4285: Department of Veterans Affairs Expiring Authorities Act of 2019 Vote postponed.
• H.R. 3170: Safe Cribs Act of 2019 Vote postponed.
• H.R. 3172: Safe Sleep for Babies Act of 2019 Vote postponed.
• H.R. 1618: Nicholas and Zachary Burt Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Prevention Act of 2019 Passed by voice vote.
• H.R. 806: Portable Fuel Container Safety Act of 2019 Passed by voice vote.

Wednesday after 12pm

• H.R. 4285: Department of Veterans Affairs Expiring Authorities Act of 2019 Passed 417-1.

Thursday after 12pm

• H.R. 4378: Continuing Appropriations Act, 2020, and Health Extenders Act of 2019 Passed 301-123.
• H.R. 2290: Shutdown Guidance for Financial Institutions Act, as amended Passed by voice vote.
• H.R. 3619: Appraisal Fee Reform Act of 2019, as amended Passed by voice vote.
• H.R. 2613: Advancing Innovation to Assist Law Enforcement Act, as amended Passed by voice vote.
• H.R. 3625: PCAOB Whistleblower Protection Act of 2019, as amended Passed by voice vote.
• H.R. 550: Merchant Mariners of World War II Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2019 Passed by voice vote.
• H.R. 1396: Hidden Figures Congressional Gold Medal Act Passed by voice vote.
• H.R. 3589: Greg LeMond Congressional Gold Medal Act Passed by voice vote.
• H.R. 1830: National Purple Heart Hall of Honor Commemorative Coin Act Passed by voice vote.
• S. 239: Christa McAuliffe Commemorative Coin Act of 2019 Passed by voice vote.

Friday between 9am and 3pm

• H.R. 1423: Forced Arbitration Injustice Repeal Act (or FAIR Act) Passed 225-186.

Tell your reps how to vote on this week's bills and share your thoughts below!

— Eric Revell