The House is in recess this week and is scheduled to return to Washington on November 16. On Monday evening, the Senate will take a final vote on the nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to serve as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, a position with life tenure. 52 members of the 53-member Senate Republican Conference have already indicated that they will be casting a vote to confirm Judge Barrett, ensuring that she will become the 103rd individual to serve on the nation's highest court as an Associate Justice. The Senate is scheduled to begin its recess immediately after Judge Barrett's confirmation and will return to Washington on November 9.The White House plans to host an outdoor swearing-in ceremony for Judge Barrett on Monday night following her confirmation and official swearing-in by Chief Justice John Roberts.
With only eight days remaining before Election Day, it remains very unlikely that a COVID-19 relief package will be agreed to by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), the Trump Administration, and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), written, voted on by the House and Senate, and signed into law by President Trump by November 3. However, negotiations will continue this week in preparation for potential action on a relief bill in the Congressional lame-duck session taking place in November and December. Other major items Congress will likely take action on during the lame-duck session include: FY 2021 appropriations bills; the 2020 Water Resources Development Act; the FY 2021 National Defense Authorization Act; an energy package; a police reform package; and tax extenders legislation.
On the campaign trail this week, President Donald Trump is scheduled to travel to Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Nebraska, and Arizona to deliver remarks at various events while former Vice President Joe Biden is headed to Georgia to campaign during the final full week leading up to Election Day. Vice President Mike Pence will travel to Minnesota, North Carolina, and South Carolina to campaign, while Senator Kamala Harris (D-CA) will make stops in Nevada, Arizona, and Texas.
