Both chambers returned to work yesterday, beginning a five-week lame duck session that runs up against a December 11 government funding deadline.

The Senate’s first order of business was a permitting overhaul, the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act. Senators Mike Lee (R-UT) and Martin Heinrich (D-NM) wrote it with Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI). It would change how energy infrastructure projects are approved under the National Environmental Policy Act, the Clean Water Act, and other federal laws. The sponsors released a revised version on Saturday, and President Trump endorsed it Sunday night. Senators took an initial procedural vote Monday evening. The House passed its own permitting bill in April and would take up the Senate version if it advances. However, Representative Jared Huffman (D-CA), current ranking member and in line to chair the House Natural Resources Committee in January, has said he would rather wait until next year.

December 11 is a crowded deadline. Government funding expires that day, and so do the Environmental Protection Agency’s authority to collect chemical fees and the current extension of federal highway and transit programs. The top four appropriators meet this week to decide between passing the remaining fiscal year 2027 spending bills or another continuing resolution (CR), the stopgap that carries current funding forward to a new date. We continue to press for the remaining Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funds, which are caught in the same negotiation.

Both parties also pick leaders for the next Congress. House and Senate Republicans vote today, with Representatives Steve Scalise (R-LA) and Jim Jordan (R-OH) competing for the top House spot and Senator John Thune (R-SD) running in the Senate. Democrats vote next week.

The farm bill is still unfinished. Senate negotiators are weighing a provision that would increase demand for corn ethanol, a priority for House Agriculture Chairman Glenn Thompson (R-PA) and Senator Charles Grassley (R-IA). Year-round sales of E15, gasoline blended with 15 percent ethanol, are not expected to move this year.

On the House Floor This Week

The House will consider legislation focused on strengthening U.S. nuclear energy and domestic fuel production, improving benefits for veterans, and supporting small businesses through enhanced cybersecurity, disaster assistance, regulatory reforms, and manufacturing initiatives. Members will also debate a retirement savings bill affecting charities and educational institutions. Overall, this week's agenda centers on energy security, economic competitiveness, and support for veterans and workers.

The House Committee on Education and Workforce will hold a field hearing in Charlotte, North Carolina, titled "Workers in Charge: Restoring Choice and Accountability in the Workplace." The hearing will examine workplace policies and labor issues, with a focus on employee choice, accountability, and worker empowerment. It is scheduled for Friday, November 13, at 10:00 a.m. You can watch the proceedings here.