<a href="https://wtop.com/closings-and-delays/" target="_blank" >CLOSINGS AND DELAYS: Multiple Virginia school districts are on a 2-hour delay, including Fauquier and Frederick counties</a> <br> <a href='https://wtop.com/author/mitch-miller/'>Mitchell Miller</a> <span> | <a href="mailto:mmiller1@wtop.com">mmiller1@wtop.com</a></span> <br>December 16, 2024, 5:07 AM<br><em><strong>For all the latest developments in Congress, follow WTOP Capitol Hill correspondent Mitchell Miller at <a href="https://wtop.com/blog/2023/10/today-on-the-hill-wtop-mitchell-miller-the-latest-developments-on-capitol-hill/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0">Today on the Hill</a>.</strong></em><br>Congressional leaders are racing to finish up this session’s legislative work, including a short-term spending bill that will need to be approved this week to avoid a government shutdown right before the holidays.<br><span style="font-size: 16px;"><a href="https://wtop.com/blog/2024/12/today-on-the-hill-wtop-mitchell-miller-the-latest-developments-on-capitol-hill/"><img class="alignright wp-image-25673054 size-full" src="https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/TODAY-ON-THE-HILL-300x534-1.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="533" /></a></span><br>The continuing resolution is expected to be agreed upon soon and must be approved by the House and Senate by Friday at midnight.<br>It’s likely to include tens of billions of dollars in <a href="https://wtop.com/national/2024/10/helene-and-milton-are-both-likely-to-be-50-billion-disasters-joining-ranks-of-most-costly-storms/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">federal disaster aid to help</a> states ravaged in recent months by hurricanes Helene and Milton, as well as severe storms.<br>Parts of Virginia are still recovering from storm damage and waiting for funding from the Small Business Administration, which has run out of money for loans.<br>The legislation is also expected to include funding for replacing the Key Bridge in Baltimore, Maryland, which <a href="https://wtop.com/blog/2024/09/the-latest-on-the-key-bridge-collapse-and-recovery-in-baltimore/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">collapsed earlier this year</a> when it was struck by a container ship.<br>Unlike in past years, it appears the legislation will pass ahead of the deadline, with minimal political drama.<br>Congress this year has continually punted on approving a budget for the full year and <a href="https://wtop.com/government/2024/09/congress-moving-swiftly-to-fund-government-and-avert-shutdown-before-heading-home-to-campaign/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">approved a stopgap spending measure</a> in September, ahead of a break before the November election.<br>Republicans are eager to incorporate President-elect Donald Trump’s legislative priorities next year, now that they control the White House and both chambers of Congress.<br>House Speaker Mike Johnson appears to have little opposition as he seeks reelection in January as the GOP leader.<br>Johnson has the backing of Trump and <a href="https://wtop.com/national/2024/12/trump-will-attend-the-army-navy-game-alongside-key-allies-nominees-and-daniel-penny/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">attended the Army-Navy game in Landover</a> over the weekend with other prominent Republicans.<br>But GOP lawmakers are still undecided about how they will address Trump’s top priorities.<br>They agree they want to utilize budget reconciliation legislation, which would allow them to get legislation through the Senate on a majority vote, avoiding the 60-vote filibuster.<br>But they remain divided over whether they should put all their priorities into one reconciliation bill or two.<br>Johnson has indicated he favors two, with one including immigration reforms and another focusing on renewing tax cuts implemented during Trump’s first term.<br>Others worry that if immigration is taken up first, it could drag out the legislative process and endanger efforts to get tax cuts approved.<br>The tax cuts expire at the end of the year.<br>But before lawmakers can focus on next year, they still need to wrap up the lame duck session.<br>The Senate will vote this week on the $895 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which was <a href="https://wtop.com/government/2024/12/house-voting-on-895b-defense-bill-with-military-pay-raise-ban-on-transgender-care-for-minors/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">approved on a bipartisan vote last week</a> by the House.<br>It includes a 14.5% pay increase for junior enlisted personnel, as well as a 4.5% increase for the military overall.<br>Trump’s nominee to head the Department of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., will be on Capitol Hill this week to meet with lawmakers.<br>Many want to ask him about some of his controversial views, including opposition to various vaccines and desire to remove fluoride from the water supply.<br>A lawyer who advises Kennedy has called on federal regulators to withdraw the polio vaccine from the market.<br>That led Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, a polio survivor, to issue a strong statement in <a href="https://wtop.com/government/2024/12/trump-nominees-should-steer-clear-of-undermining-polio-vaccine-mcconnell-says/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">support of the vaccine</a> last week.<br>“Efforts to undermine public confidence in proven cures are not just uninformed — they’re dangerous,” McConnell said. “Anyone seeking the Senate’s consent to serve in the incoming administration would do well to steer clear of even the appearance of association with such efforts.”<br>Trump’s nominee for defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, got <a href="https://wtop.com/government/2024/12/trump-offers-a-public-show-of-support-for-pete-hegseth-his-embattled-nominee-to-lead-the-pentagon/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">another public boost from the president-elect</a> on Saturday. Like Johnson, Hegseth attended the Army-Navy game with him in Maryland.<br>Hegseth’s nomination had a rough start after reports of public drunkenness, an allegation of sexual assault and questions about his management of a veterans organization.<br>But his supporters mounted an offensive on his behalf and for now it appears he has steadied his path toward confirmation<br>He and other nominees will still face lots of tough questions when Senate confirmation hearings begin early next year.<br><em style="font-size:16px;font-weight:600;">Get breaking news and daily headlines delivered to your email inbox by signing up <a href="https://wtop.com/newsletter-signup/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.</em><br>© 2024 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.<br>Mitchell Miller has worked at WTOP since 1996, as a producer, editor, reporter and Senior News Director. After working "behind the scenes," coordinating coverage and reporter coverage for years, Mitchell moved back to his first love -- reporting. He is now WTOP's Capitol Hill reporter.<br>5425 Wisconsin Ave<br /> Chevy Chase, MD 20815<br> <a href="mailto:hello@wtop.com">hello@wtop.com</a> <br> <a href="tel:2028955000">202.895.5000</a> <br><br>Copyright © 2024 by WTOP. All rights reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.<br><br><a href="https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiogFBVV95cUxQTllQRFN0MzBLeThweVRfYmYwdndLQWxqZTdWc2w3T1VUaVFGMFVoQ3E4MC1YTU5yb0VvdXFFeFBXc0NyYm05NW4tbmIyd0h1OUh2S0lQSl9wYktWdExrRVRJOFlhUE5TV1FQdzFlYkdZWktmb3FyZFc4cDIyZks1ZGhWcEdVVmIySHRuYkJGUTFUZ0FTQXh4b3R0ZUtsUW1ReFE?oc=5">source</a>
