This Week on the Hill: White House, Congress Eye Short-Term Funding Extension

Congressional negotiators and White House officials are discussing a short-term funding bill budget bill that would delay a partial government shutdown while Washington prepares for the state funeral of former President George H.W. Bush. Among the details still being ironed out is whether the short-term extension would push the funding deadline by one or two weeks, with the one-week extension being the most likely scenario. Funding for parts of the federal government is set to expire at midnight December 7, but Congress is deadlocked over Trump’s demand for $5 billion in funding for a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.

President Trump has declared a national day of mourning for this Wednesday, when the state funeral for former President Bush will take place. The 41st President of the United States passed away Friday at his home in Houston, Texas. President Bush will lie in state in the Capitol Rotunda beginning on Monday evening.

On the floor, Congressional lawmakers are expected to clear the short-term funding resolution as soon as an agreement has been reached. Lawmakers are also expected to vote on the conference report for the Farm Bill once legislative text has been finalized. The Senate will return to Washington today and consider the nomination of Bernard McNamee to be a Member of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). House members will resume legislative business on Tuesday, and have queued up 14 bills under suspension of the rules.