Congress gears up to certify President-elect Trump's election victory in the snow Monday, as House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) vows to proceed with the vote despite a snowstorm hitting Washington, D.C. There is.
The House and Senate are scheduled to meet in joint session Monday at 1 p.m. to certify Trump's victory, a process required by the Constitution and federal law. But on Monday, the nation's capital is bracing for up to 10 inches of snow, a weather phenomenon that could make it difficult for lawmakers to reach the Capitol.
But Johnson said the operation would continue “blizzard or no,” citing federal law and Trump's “landslide” victory. It comes exactly four years after a violent mob of Trump supporters stormed the Capitol and disrupted the certification of President Biden's election victory.
The debate over the best strategy to implement President Trump's legislative wish list is also expected to intensify this week after the president-elect endorsed proposing one reconciliation bill instead of two. This is in stark contrast to the stance of Senate Majority Leader John Thune. (RSD) etc. And several of President Trump's cabinet nominees are likely to visit the Capitol this week to meet with senators, including Trump's nominee for director of national intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard. He is scheduled to meet with the top Democrat, Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia. Information Committee.
Additionally, the late President Jimmy Carter will lie in state as a state guest at the Capitol as Washington begins a multi-day commemoration of the 39th president's life.
Congress to certify Trump's election victory amid snowstorm
Trump on Monday as lawmakers trudged through the snow to take part in the proceedings, which marks exactly the fourth year since a violent mob stormed the Capitol and disrupted proceedings. The certification of the president's election victory will take center stage in Washington.
Despite inclement weather, with some forecasts calling for up to 10 inches of snow, Congress plans to meet to certify the election.
“The House of Representatives intends to certify President Trump's election tomorrow as scheduled, consistent with federal law,” Johnson's press secretary, Taylor Halsey, said in a statement Sunday.
The House and Senate last week passed concurrent resolutions that set Jan. 6 as the date for Congress to certify the election under Biden's 2022 Electoral Tabulation Act, which lawmakers passed in the wake of the Capitol riot. It was adopted.
Both chambers are scheduled to hold a joint session Monday at 1 p.m. to begin the quadrennial process. Vice President Kamala Harris will preside over the House floor.
That schedule is set by federal law, so lawmakers would have to pass separate legislation to reschedule the proceedings if necessary because of the snow. There is some precedent for such a move. In 2013, Congress voted to certify former President Obama's election victory on January 4, because January 6 fell on a Sunday.
However, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has indicated he has no intention of changing the date. “We hope everyone will be there,” he told “Fox News Sunday,” adding that Republican leaders are encouraging lawmakers to stay in Washington over the weekend because of the forecast. pointed out.
“President Trump had a mandate that it was a landslide, that he won so many electoral votes, and we can count them all. And we can't delay that certification,” Johnson said. he said.
Some lawmakers have vowed to attend regardless of the conditions. For example, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) said: I wrote to X: “I'm here and I'll walk to the Capitol if I have to.”
Monday's certification took place in the shadow of the 2021 riot, in which a mob of Trump supporters stormed the Capitol and disrupted the counting of Biden's election victory. In light of the events of four years ago, the Democratic Party said it has no plans to hold election protests like in the past.
Reconciliation debate heats up in the Senate
Debate over how to carry out President Trump's vast legislative agenda will take place in the Senate this week after the president said he would prefer one major settlement to two rather than two. It is poised to intensify. This stance stands in stark contrast to that of Thune and other conservative House Republicans. .
President Trump formally announced his support for a single reconciliation bill on Sunday night. write to x: “Lawmakers are beginning work on powerful legislation to take our country back and make it greater than ever,” President Trump said, including border policy and energy policy. He said the 2017 tax cut period would also be extended.
Trump's statement came a day after Johnson told House Republicans at a dinner that the president-elect favors a one-track strategy.
But that stance has not gone down well with some Senate Republicans, who prefer a two-bill approach. Budget Committee Chairman Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said Sunday on Fox News that he was “very concerned” about moving a single bill.
“I'm very concerned that if we don't put our borders first and do that, it's going to be a national security nightmare,” Graham said, later adding: But what I would say to the American people from my perspective is that job number one is to protect our nation for the federal government. ”
This week, attention will be focused on how Thune will respond to President Trump's statements that contradict the strategy. Majority leaders introduced a settlement proposal last month that includes two bills. One would address border security and defense, and the other would extend President Trump's 2017 tax cuts, which include a number of provisions that are set to expire at the end of 2025.
Furthermore, the House Freedom Caucus is likely to take issue with President Trump's comments. Last month, conservative groups wrote to Mr Johnson supporting a two-bill strategy.
Johnson appeared on Fox News Sunday and laid out an ambitious timeline for working on the settlement. He said the House aims to pass a budget resolution in early February and then move the entire budget in the first week of April.
“Everything has to move in the right order, and along the way, I think we can keep the trains moving in the right direction and on time,” Johnson said. “If that happens, we will move the bill out of the House in early April, perhaps as early as April 3, and then move it to the Senate. That way, we will have until the end of April to move the bill. It will be on the president's desk for signature. That would be great.”
Notably, during the first week of April, Florida will host former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) and outgoing Mike Walz, who will become President Trump's national security adviser in 2016. It is also time for two special elections to be held to replace the congressman (R-Fla.). Jan. 20 — Two House resolutions likely to give Republicans additional votes in the conference.
One person likely to praise President Trump's preferred strategy is Rep. Jason Smith (R-Missouri), chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, who said he would issue one settlement bill instead of two. was publicly promoted.
Administration candidates, including Gabbard, return to Capitol Hill
Trump's cabinet members and administration nominees are expected to return to the Capitol this week to meet with senators as they prepare for confirmation hearings and a final vote.
The group also includes Gabbard, who was nominated by President Trump to be director of national intelligence, and is scheduled to have a one-on-one meeting with Warner, the ranking member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, this week.
Gabbard is seen as one of the most controversial of Trump's nominees, with her comments on her 2017 meeting with Bashar al-Assad and the Russia-Ukraine war. Questions have arisen as to whether the statement was the same as that of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The Senate is scheduled to adopt an organizational resolution this week, in addition to meeting with candidates, as the 119th Congress begins. Last week, the senators were sworn into office, officially beginning Thune's term as majority leader.
President Carter lies in national politics
The late President Jimmy Carter will lie in state as a state guest at the Capitol this week as Washington honors the life and legacy of its 39th president.
The arrival ceremony for Mr. Carter's remains is scheduled for 2:45 p.m. Tuesday, followed by a Congressional memorial service in memory of the late president, which will be attended by Mr. Johnson, Mr. Thune and other members of the leadership. It becomes.
A viewing period will then begin on Tuesday during which the public will pay their respects to Carter in the Capitol Rotunda. The first viewing period will be Tuesday from 7pm to midnight, then Wednesday from 7am to 7am Thursday.
On Thursday morning, Congressional leaders are scheduled to attend a ceremony to enshrine Carter's remains. The late president's state funeral is scheduled for Thursday at the Washington National Cathedral. Mr. Biden is expected to submit a eulogy after Mr. Carter said he had been asked to do so.
