It was an extraordinary week in our nation’s capital. On Saturday, in defiance of virtually all predictions, then Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) worked with House Democrats in agreeing on and passing a Continuing Resolution (CR) to keep the government funded until November 17. The CR (H.R. 5860) was relatively “clean” with no additional funding for Ukraine, which has become a politically volatile topic in the House. The measure does, however, include $16 billion in disaster relief funding and extends the authorization for the Federal Aviation Administration until the end of this year. FAA’s authority would have expired October 1 without Congressional action. The 71-page CR passed the House 335-91 and was sent to the Senate, which approved the measure 88-9. President Biden signed the bill Saturday evening.
The ink was not even dry on the new law when sabers began rattling from the right flank of the House Republican Conference led by Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL). Representative Gaetz followed through on his threat to file a “motion to vacate the chair” and force a vote on removing Speaker McCarthy. That effort prevailed on Tuesday when eight Republican’s joined with all Democrats in the House in voting for the motion. Rep. Patrick McKenry (R-NC) is the Speaker Pro Tempore as he was at the top of a list of names that Kevin McCarthy submitted when he won the Speaker position back in January. Upon assuming his role, Rep. McKenry promptly gaveled the House into recess for a week so that the Conference could sort out its leadership crisis.
Currently, three Members of Congress are in the mix to succeed McCarthy—Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA), Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) who chairs the House Judiciary Committee, and Rep. Kevin Hern (R-OK), Chairman of the Republican Study Committee. Former President Donald Trump has also been mentioned as a potential candidate.
The effect of the turmoil in the House is that it clouds the future on key legislative deliverables that were on deck for this Fall, including the Farm Bill reauthorization, the House Ways & Means Committee-passed tax benefit extension package, and the supply chain bills that passed the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee this summer. Congress only has a few dozen legislative days left in the calendar year, and this weeklong recess is not alleviating concerns that time is running out for meaningful action on issues important to the business community. ABMA continues to meet with key committee staff and our champions on the Hill to urge action on workforce development, extension of key tax benefits like full expensing, and the supply chain package that awaits House floor action. All of these items are in limbo until the House majority elects a new Speaker.
