As Congress returns to Washington this fall after a monthlong August recess, they will have to find a way to work with Democrats or around them as a government shutdown looms.

Congressional Republicans scored a massive victory this summer when they passed President Donald Trump’s “big beautiful bill” of tax and spending cuts without a single Democratic vote. But as they return to Washington this fall after a monthlong August recess, they will have to find a way to work with Democrats — or around them — as a government shutdown looms.

The annual spending battle will dominate the September agenda, along with a possible effort by Senate Republicans to change their chamber’s rules to thwart Democratic stalling tactics on nominations. The Senate is also debating whether to move forward on legislation that would slap steep tariffs on some of Russia’s trading partners as the U.S. pressures Russian President Vladimir Putin on Ukraine.

In the House, Republicans will continue their investigations of former President Joe Biden while Speaker Mike Johnson navigates a split in his conference over whether the Trump administration should release more files in the Jeffrey Epstein investigation.

A look at what Congress will be doing as lawmakers return from the August break:

  • pelespirit@sh.itjust.works
    70·
    6 days ago

    A reminder of where we left of in the previous season of the POS Christofascist series.

    Republicans Shut Down House Floor to Avoid Epstein Vote

    Committee Democrats had planned to force a vote that night on a resolution calling for the public release of Epstein-related documents. The move came as the panel was preparing unrelated bills for House floor consideration.

    But rather than work through the disruption, Republicans chose to shut things down entirely. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise said it was “unlikely” the committee would reconvene this week at all. Lawmakers later confirmed there were no plans to return—meaning the House will likely head into August recess without voting on several bills that cannot pass under expedited rules, including a GOP-backed immigration measure and a water-permitting bill.

    https://www.newsweek.com/republicans-jeffrey-epstein-house-vote-2102137