House Republicans Set Legislative Priorities After Electing Mike Johnson as Speaker Oct 27, 2023
By yourNEWS Media Staff
After the election of Mike Johnson as Speaker of the House of Representatives on Wednesday, the House is tasked with addressing several pressing bills.
The shift in leadership came after the House’s decision on October 3 to remove Kevin McCarthy as its speaker. This action, initiated by Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz along with other conservative representatives and all House Democrats, resulted in a 22-day standstill. During this period, House Republicans faced challenges electing a replacement, seeing three nominees withdraw. Johnson’s election marked the end of this hiatus, allowing the House to refocus on key legislative concerns, primarily appropriations and authorization bills.
The House is under pressure following the passage of a continuing resolution on September 30, which was vital to avoid a government shutdown. By November 17, the House needs to pass all 12 appropriations bills or another continuing resolution to prevent potential shutdown scenarios. To date, the House has approved five of these 12 bills related to various departments, yet none have received Senate approval.
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Post Johnson’s election, the House passed a resolution condemning Hamas for its attacks on Israel. Following this, they addressed an appropriations bill associated with the Department of Energy and water management. This bill was passed on Thursday. However, concerns arise about the limited time to discuss the remaining bills and to reconcile any differences with the Senate through the “conference” process.
Republican Rep. Brett Guthrie voiced concerns, stating “We are not going to pass all appropriations bills. We’re going to have to do something to meet the Nov. 17 deadline.” Rep. Dan Newhouse concurred, highlighting the urgency and likelihood of another continuing resolution.
Beyond standard appropriations, Congress will also review additional funding requests from the Biden administration. One request seeks $106 billion for military aid to Israel and Ukraine, while another aims for $56 billion for disaster relief and other purposes.
Republican Rep. Mike Garcia commented on the aid package, emphasizing a preference for separate considerations for Israel and Ukraine. Another concern raised was fiscal responsibility, with Republican Rep. Chip Roy stating aid must be offset by spending cuts.
Furthermore, the House is slated to discuss reauthorization for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). An extension was provisionally granted until December 31, 2023, following the passage of H.R. 3935 on July 20. Yet, with the Senate proposing different legislation, a consensus is still needed.
In addition, the House will review the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for fiscal year 2024. Separate NDAA versions passed in both chambers, and a conference committee is currently working on reconciling the differences.
On October 23, Johnson shared a letter detailing his legislative priorities for the remainder of the 118th Congress. Besides appropriations and national defense, Johnson expressed an intent to address the Farm Bill by year’s end. This bill, which determines agricultural policy, is essential for U.S. food production and holds significant importance for representatives from agricultural states.
However, with the House scheduled to be away from Washington, D.C., for six weeks between October 26 and December 31, according to the Majority Leader’s website, the feasibility of passing all proposed legislation within the year remains uncertain.
As of the time of reporting, Johnson’s office has not provided a comment.
