The 115th Congress convened for the first time at noon on Tuesday when all 435 recently elected members of the House were sworn-in for a two-year term and the 34 Senators elected this past November were sworn-in for six-year terms. Before the House was formally sworn in, Speaker of the House Paul Ryan (R-WI) was re-elected to his leadership post. Also today, the House will debate and vote on a new rules package (H. Res. 5) for the 115th Congress.  The Republicans will hold a 241-194 majority in the House and a 52-48 majority in the Senate. Remaining House and Senate committee assignments and chairmanships are expected to be announced soon.

 

This week, the House will consider 8 bills under suspension of the rules. Additionally, the House will vote on the Midnight Rules Relief Act of 2017, which would amend the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to authorize Congress to pass a single joint resolution blocking multiple major rules completed during the final 60 legislative days of a President's term, instead of passing individual resolutions of disapproval for each rule; the Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny ( REINS) Act of 2017, which would r equire Congress to approve major rules, including those with an annual economic cost of more than $100 million, before they could take effect; and a resolution objecting to the Dec. 23 resolution adopted by the United Nations that was critical of Israeli settlements in the West Bank. On Friday, the House will convene for a Joint Session of Congress, presided over by Vice President Joe Biden, to officially count the 538 electoral ballots for President and Vice President of the United States cast on December 19th by the Electoral College.

 

Senate leaders are preparing to release the text of a FY 2017 budget resolution that probably will be circulated this week, then dominate floor time next week. It's being offered with reconciliation instructions to give the Republican majority an opportunity to circumvent filibuster rules when Congress votes to repeal the Affordable Care Act. President Obama is planning a trip to Capitol Hill on Wednesday to discuss with Congressional Democrats his concerns about repealing the 2010 health care law and ideas he has to improve it. Vice President-elect Mike Pence plans to meet that same day with House Republicans to discuss their strategy for repealing the law.