House and Senate Republicans will huddle with President Trump Wednesday to plan a September agenda that centers on passing the fiscal 2019 government spending bills.
The House is in session just a few weeks before the Sept. 30 end of the fiscal year, when government funding must be renewed to avoid a partial shutdown.
“Speaker Ryan and other congressional GOP leaders are scheduled to meet with the president tomorrow to discuss the upcoming legislative agenda, including appropriations,” said AshLee Strong, a spokesperson for Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis.
No 2019 spending bills have cleared Congress yet but both chambers have passed individual and packaged appropriations bills.
President Trump has suggested he is willing to let government funding lapse if money for a southern border wall is not included in the spending package, but House and Senate GOP leaders say they want to wait to address wall money until after the November midterm election.
Lawmakers are eager to avoid a spending showdown ahead of the election and are also planning to leave town in October so vulnerable incumbents have time to campaign.
In addition to Ryan, the meeting with Trump will include Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn, R-Texas.
