Government Funding & Impeachment Inquiry On Agenda As House Returns

As the House of Representatives reconvenes this week after the long August recess, government funding and an impeachment inquiry are two matters that will likely dominate the lower chamber in September.

House Republicans are trying to pass a resolution to keep the government’s lights on even after September 30, but the details surrounding the stopgap bill are not known. Members need to reach a consensus before the shutdown deadline, which is roughly three weeks away.

Lawmakers are considering a continuing resolution, with both chambers this week proceeding with the formal appropriations process. The House is meant to discuss a bill for funding the Department of Defense, and the Senate is looking at a “minibus” containing three appropriations bills.

While passing the continuing resolution and avoiding a shutdown is a major task for leaders, a potential impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden is another subject the House will be focused on this month. Conservatives are calling for an inquiry, with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy indicating that a vote could take place this fall. However, many moderate Republicans are not in favor of such a step.

Meanwhile, on Thursday, in the Senate, Majority Leader Chuck Schumer hosted a forum on artificial intelligence. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, X owner Elon Musk and Sundar Pichai, the CEO of Google parent company Alphabet, were among those who attended the forum.