The House of Representatives will return from recess early on Aug. 12 to send the tax, healthcare, and environment spending bill Senate Democrats plan to pass this weekend to President Joe Biden’s desk.
The House adjourned a week ago for its five-week summer recess and wasn’t supposed to be back in session until just after Labor Day. But House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) announced Friday that lawmakers would be expected to return to Washington the following week for a day of voting on the Inflation Reduction Act. The slim Democratic Senate majority is taking up the measure this weekend, with passage in that chamber expected late Sunday night or early Monday morning.
The 100-member Senate is using special budget rules, known as reconciliation, that will allow passage with 51 votes rather than the 60 usually needed to overcome the chamber’s filibuster rule. The Senate will likely pass the bill following a blitz of amendments that will be considered.
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“Members are advised that pending Senate action on the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, the House is expected to meet on Friday, August 12th, to consider the legislation,” Hoyer’s advisory saays. “Members are further advised the House is expected to meet at 9:00 a.m. for legislative business, and multiple vote series are expected.”
This is the only recess day rescheduled for votes so far.
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Passing the IRA, led by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), will add another accomplishment to the Democrats’ roster following a successful deadline-driven push to pass the CHIPS Act, which aims to help the U.S. microprocessor industry, as well as a bipartisan gun bill.
Democrats hope to have as many accomplishments as possible to tout before the midterm elections, in which they risk losing control of the House amid Biden’s spiraling approval ratings. The 50-50 Senate is also in play, and Democrats currently hold a majority, thanks only to Vice President Kamala Harris’s tiebreaking vote.
The IRA includes climate and tax provisions that have drawn the ire of Senate Republicans, who are all expected to oppose it.
