Today on the Hill: Senate Eyes Completion of Defense-Labor-HHS Conference Report; Kavanaugh Confirmation Vote Delayed

Following passage of the highly anticipated opioid response legislation, the Senate will reconvene this morning to check off an additional big ticket legislative item. The upper chamber is slated to vote on the Defense-Labor-HHS-Education conference report today as Congress seeks to keep the government funded beyond the September 30^th funding deadline. The report includes both a year-long funding package for the departments of Defense, Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education for FY 2019, along with a short-term continuing resolution (CR) that would keep remaining agencies funded through December 7^th while negotiations continue.

Meanwhile, the Senate Judiciary Committee has pumped the brakes on its scheduled vote on Supreme Court Nominee Brett Kavanaugh amidst an allegation of sexual misconduct. The Committee will hold a public hearing next Monday where Kavanaugh and his accuser — California professor Dr. Christine Blasey Ford — will address Ford’s claim. The decision to delay the vote comes as Republican members of the panel huddled behind closed doors on Monday evening to discuss a path forward for Kavanaugh's nomination, which the allegation threatens to derail.

The House is in recess this week, and will return to Washington on Tuesday, September 25.