WASHINGTON (Gray DC) – Next week, Congress returns for its final “lame duck” session – the period after Election Day before the new Congress begins in January.
University of Maryland Assistant Professor of Government and Politics Breanna Gray believes the session will likely focus on funding the federal government, which is set to expire on Dec. 20, and authorization.
“We’re looking to figure out how to fund the government so that we can continue operations into the new year. So I definitely think that that’s going to be one of the primary focuses,” she said.
On Wednesday, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said the remaining work still had yet to be discussed.
“We are going to have to finish figure out how to finish up the year and that always involves a conversation between Senator Schumer and myself. As to, how we wrap it up. But those conversations haven’t started yet,” said the senator.
Gray said she thinks the current Congress will likely only pass a short-term government funding bill once again, instead of tackling a full-year government funding bill.
She also expects to see some executive actions from the Biden administration in the lame duck period.
“I think Ukraine is obviously a big concern. And creating an additional funding package, perhaps, to Ukraine. I think, with regard to Iranian oil and some of the sanctions that have been, focused on in this administration, I think there may be attention paid to to that,” said Gray. “We may also see that, President Biden decides to get ahead of the proposed tariffs from President-elect Donald Trump.”
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