Congress is looking at the list of things to do in its last week of 2023

Congress is looking down a long to-do list as it heads into the final week of the 2023 legislative session, prompting a last-ditch effort in both chambers to finalize legislation that must be passed and vetted. many priorities from party agendas.

At the top of that list for the Senate is a deal on border security and sending more aid to Ukraine, which the White House and lawmakers on both sides have emphasized. an urgent need as the year closes. That goal will come under the spotlight this week with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s visit to Capitol Hill, giving him the opportunity to ask lawmakers for direct support as he battles Kyiv. against Russia.

Zelensky is scheduled to attend a meeting of all senators, along with Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and meet with President Biden on Tuesday.

Also in the Senate, lawmakers will consider the annual defense bill, known as the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), with the intention of sending it to the House before the chamber adjourns for recess. relax

On the House side, Republicans this week plan to hold a vote on strengthening their impeachment inquiry against Biden, a priority as the investigation enters a more difficult phase. including the landing of high-profile witnesses.

Zelensky on Capitol Hill as Senate border talks continue

Zelensky is set to visit Washington this week, making a presentation to the Senate on border security as lawmakers try to unlock aid for Ukraine.

Zelensky is scheduled to attend a meeting of all senators at the Capitol on Tuesday morning, according to the Senate leadership, after receiving an invitation from Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. (DN.Y.) and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) . Zelensky is also set to meet with Johnson at the Capitol on Tuesday, the spokesman announced on Sunday.

The talks come as Congress stalls on sending aid to Ukraine and growing Republican lawmakers on both sides of the Capitol oppose more support for Kyiv amid its war. against Russia.

“The United States has sent enough money to Ukraine. We need to tell Zelensky to seek peace,” Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) written in X Sunday.

However, the White House has pleaded with Congress to send more aid to Ukraine. Last week, the Office of Management and Budget, Shalanda Young, said the US was “running out of money – and running out of time” to send more aid to Ukraine. The White House announced an additional $100 billion for national defense earlier this year, including about $60 billion for Ukraine, but the package has not moved.

Instead, Republicans in both chambers are forcing any aid for Ukraine to be tied to border security. A bipartisan group of senators has been in talks for weeks about a deal on border security but is struggling to reach an agreement amid controversy.

On Sunday, Sen. Chris Murphy (Conn.), the leading Democratic negotiator, called the GOP demands “unreasonable.”

“We’re still trying to resolve some of the major conflicts that remain,” he said on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” later adding: “It has to be resolved now, it has to be. tell the Republicans it’s reasonable. We’re not going to solve the entire immigration problem between now and the end of the year. But we can do a minimum wage.”

Murphy also said he thinks the White House will be “more engaged this week” on border talks.

Sen. James Lankford (Okla.), the chief GOP negotiator, meanwhile, told CBS’ “Face the Nation” on Sunday that he is looking at the finish line.

“The negotiations have not been completed for a week now, it has been going on for months. So, we have come a long way. It is time to finish this, make a decision and do what we can to help the country,” he said. . “We cannot do everything on the border. But we can do things to start controlling the border so that the United States controls our borders, not the cartels.

House to vote on strengthening Biden investigation

The House is poised this week to vote on a resolution to strengthen the GOP’s investigation into Biden with the conference looking to put more legislation behind the investigation as it moves toward a more important.

The resolution, which covers 14 pages, says its purpose is to direct “certain committees to continue their ongoing investigation as part of the House of Representatives’ current investigation into whether sufficient cause exists.” is for the House of Representatives to exercise its Constitutional power against Joseph Biden, President of the United States.”

Tuesday of this week is scheduled to be voted on by the House Rules Committee.

Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) opened an impeachment inquiry into Biden in September, ordering the chairs of the House Oversight, Judiciary and Ways and Means committees to continue their investigation into the Biden family’s finances and a Justice Department investigation into Hunter. Alleging Biden can’t pay taxes.

McCarthy refused to hold a vote on the establishment of the investigation in September, instead announcing the release on his own will. Johnson, however, is now holding a vote after the White House – while responding to requests from the panel – argued that the study was not approved because it was not organized by an official vote of the Palace.

Johnson on Sunday accused the White House of “stonewalling” GOP lawmakers.

“We must be very careful and careful and follow the facts they lead to. The impeachment investigation is the next necessary step because the White House is now suspending our investigation,” he said in the during the show on “Fox & Friends.”

Just left ‘queen-of-the-hill’ for FISA

This week the House is holding a “queen-of-the-hill” vote on reforming U.S. surveillance powers, a fierce battle that has pitted powerful committees against each other. two facing each other.

The House plans to vote on a bill to reform Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) from the House Judiciary Committee and another from the House Judiciary Committee. , two sets of laws have differences that have fueled tension between the two groups. . Whoever gets the most support on the floor will be sent to the Senate.

Section 702 of the FISA allows the government to spy on foreign nationals without a warrant, in the process, to pick up communications from Americans.

Members of the Judiciary Committee are pushing to require the government to issue a warrant before reviewing information about American citizens. communicating with those outside the system. However, the lawmakers on the Information Committee, they see a need like weakening the purpose of surveillance powers and preventing law enforcement from finding information that may be needed quickly. move.

Politics reported last week that the GOP will meet on Monday night to discuss the debate on FISA’s Section 702. To resolve the dispute, however, Johnson said this week since he will bring both bills to the floor to determine which has the better support – and then send one. in the Senate.

“My desire is to submit bills as reported by the House Judiciary and Research Committee under a special law to obtain Members shall have a reasonable opportunity to vote in their proportion. Additionally, we have received assurances from Leader Schumer and Leader McConnell that the Senate will work in good faith on a final reform bill that can pass both chambers,” the letter said. Johnson to his friends.

For now, however, the House-Senate compromise defense bill includes a brief extension of FISA’s Section 702 until April 19, allowing the agency to operate while Congress issues exceptions. in long changes.

This week the Senate is scheduled to consider the annual defense bill. Last week, the measure overcame its first hurdle: the Senate voted 82-15 on the motion to continue with the NDAA.

– Updated at 6:46am