Today on the Hill: Senate GOP Concedes That Resolution of Disapproval Has Enough Support to Pass

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) admitted yesterday that the upper chamber is likely to pass a resolution of disapproval (H.J.Res 46) next week that would overturn President Trump's national emergency declaration. Leader McConnell’s remarks came after Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) joined three other Senate Republicans — including Sens. Susan Collins (R-ME), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Thom Tillis (R-NC) — in announcing he would support the Democratic measure while roughly a dozen GOP Senators remain undecided. Democrats now have the 51 votes they need to secure passage in the Senate, which would force President Trump to issue the first veto of his presidency. However, the President’s forthcoming veto would likely survive an override attempt as the measure does not have the required two-thirds majority in the House. 

On the floor, Senators will hold a final confirmation vote on Allison Jones Rushing’s nomination to be a Circuit Judge for the Fourth Circuit. The Senate is expected to take up the nomination of Chad Readler to be a Circuit Judge for the Sixth Circuit following the vote on the Rushing nomination. In the House, lawmakers will return to action today and consider six bills under suspension of the rules. This includes a measure out of the Energy and Commerce Committee (H.R. 762) that would amend the Energy Policy and Conservation Act to provide more information regarding federal energy efficiency projects for schools.