The House and Senate Republicans are planning an aggressive agenda that will begin with repealing Obamacare in the first few days of the new Congress.
For the first time in more than 15 years, Republicans will hold majorities in both chambers and will control the White House, which virtually guarantees they will be able to turn some major agenda items into law.
Republicans intend to maximize their newfound power by including more congressional days in session than is typical, beginning in January.
While both the House and Senate begin writing legislation to repeal the healthcare law, Republican senators will convene hearings and votes to confirm President-elect Donald Trump’s nominees in time for his swearing-in on the 20th. Republicans point out that on Inauguration Day in 2009, the Senate confirmed seven Obama cabinet nominees.
Lawmakers expect to begin debating a bill to repeal Obamacare as early as the first week in session, fulfilling a GOP pledge made six years ago when the Affordable Care Act became law over their objections.
“When we come back January 3rd, we’ll be moving to the Obamacare replacement resolution,” Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said this month. “The Obamacare repeal resolution will be the first item up in the new year.”
The only thing in the way of jumping right into Obamacare and confirming Trump’s Cabinet nominees are some basic housekeeping items. On the House side, that means holding a vote to elect the House Speaker.
Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., is expected to win re-election although some conservatives who frequently buck the leadership may vote against him. With a 20-vote majority, Republicans can afford to lose votes without much threat to Ryan, who must be elected by the full House and not just his own party.
Both Ryan and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., will address the House chamber. The House will also vote on rules governing the chamber for the 115th session, and members will be sworn in on the House floor.
In the Senate, the first order of business is the swearing-in of senators, establishing a quorum and adopting administrative resolutions. Vice-president Joe Biden will preside over the chamber for these matters.
Senators don’t need to hold elections for officers or a new President Pro Tempore (currently Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah), however, because the GOP remains in the majority.
The Senate will also adopt standard rules governing the chamber, such as limiting roll call votes to 15 minutes and allowing ten minutes of floor time daily to each party leader.
While the Constitution’s 20th amendment requires Congress to convene at noon on January 3, lawmakers typically change the first day to a date between Jan. 4-7. This year will mark only the second time in a decade that Congress will actually convene on Jan. 3.
