Democrats return with lengthy to-do list | TheHill – The Hill

Lawmakers are set to return to Washington with a full legislative plate after punting some of their biggest priorities into 2022.

Democrats are poised to dive directly into two big fights President Bidens sweeping spending plan and voting rights legislation putting a spotlight back on intraparty divisions that dominated the end of last year.

Other deadlines, like funding the government, are also looming. And coloring all of the legislative fights is the growingpull of the midterm elections, which typically dampen the chances for major legislation. Democrats are under pressure to pass big priorities amid uncertaintyover who will control Congress after this year.

Here are five things on Congresss to-do list for the start of 2022:

Build Back Better revival

Democrats are vowing to find a way to resuscitate at least part of a roughly $2 trillion climate and social spending bill after Sen. Joe ManchinJoe ManchinManchin floats modest Senate rules changes Overnight Energy & Environment Manchin raises hopes on climate spending Joe Manchin stood up for West Virginia values MORE (D-W.Va.) put it in the deep freeze.

Manchin after weeks of signaling concerns about the House-passed bill but refusing to give it a direct cut announced his opposition during a Fox News Sunday interview on Dec. 19 and then doubled down during a West Virginia radio interview warning that Democrats had miscalculated if they though they could pressure him into supporting the sweeping legislation.

I'm not from where they're from, and they can just beat the living crap out of people and think they'll be submissive, period," he said.

Senate Majority Leader Charles SchumerChuck SchumerThe Hill's Morning Report - Presented by Altria - Winter is here for Democrats Schumer ramps up filibuster fight ahead of Jan. 6 anniversary Corporations, politicians and new tax incentives support carbon mitigation investments MORE (D-N.Y.), facing pressure from within his own caucus, is pledging to force a vote in early January on a revised version of the House-passed bill. Democrats are using the budget rules to avoid a GOP filibuster, but theyll still need total unity from all 50 of their members, including Manchin, in order to start a debate.

But Democrats are also in negotiations and floating ways to potentially scale back the bill so that it would include a smaller number of programs that would be funded for a longer period of time.

If Democrats go smaller, theyll need to make painful decisions about jettisoning some of their pet priorities that are likely to hit serious roadblocks outside of the budget rules, given the 60-vote threshold required for most legislation.

One of the biggest sticking points is over the child tax credit. Democrats, as part of a coronavirus relief bill passed in March, included a beefed-up child tax credit through 2021.

Manchins recent offer to the White House didnt include the child tax credit, which is viewed as a must-have for both the administration and many of his colleagues.

Voting rights and filibuster reform

After months of grumbling over the rules, and growing pressure from both activists and Senate Democrats, Schumer is poised to bring a fight over voting rights and changing the Senates filibuster rule to a head.

In a letter to his caucus, the Senate Democratic leader said he would bring voting legislation to the floor in January and that if it is blocked by Republicans, the Senate will then consider changes to any rules which prevent us from debating and reaching final conclusion on important legislation.

Republicans have used the 60-vote legislative filibuster to block several voting and election bills, arguing that they would federalize elections. Thats fueled frustration from outside groups and members of Schumers own caucus who want the majority leader to outline a plan for how Democrats will pass legislation as state legislatures debate new voting rules.

Schumer hasnt publicly endorsed specific rules changes, but hes made it increasingly clear that hes ready to make changes in an effort to restore the Senate.

A group within the Senate Democratic Caucus, including Sens. Angus KingAngus KingSchumer ramps up filibuster fight ahead of Jan. 6 anniversary Schumer vows Senate rules change vote by Jan. 17 if GOP blocks voting rights Democratsreturn with lengthy to-do list MORE (I-Maine), Jon TesterJonathan (Jon) TesterSchumer ramps up filibuster fight ahead of Jan. 6 anniversary Schumer vows Senate rules change vote by Jan. 17 if GOP blocks voting rights Democratsreturn with lengthy to-do list MORE (D-Mont.) and Tim KaineTimothy (Tim) Michael KaineOvernight Health Care Presented by AstraZeneca and Friends of Cancer Research Biden seeks to alleviate omicron concerns On the Money Dems pivot from Biden spending plan Tim Kaine reaches Capitol after being stranded on I-95 for nearly 27 hours MORE (D-Va.), have been working on a proposal for how to change the Senates filibuster rule. Those ideas include implementing a talking filibuster, creating a carveout from the filibuster for voting rights legislation or changing the number of votes required to break a filibuster from 60 yes votes to 41 no votes.

But to change the rules without GOP support, Democrats would need total unity from within their 50-member caucus, and so far they dont have it. Manchin and Sen. Kyrsten SinemaKyrsten SinemaManchin floats modest Senate rules changes On the Money Dems pivot from Biden spending plan Schumer vows Senate rules change vote despite 'uphill fight' MORE (D-Ariz.) have backed keeping the 60-vote hurdle, though Manchin has been taking part in private talks and Sinema has called for a public debate on the rules.

Schumer, however, is warning that he could make the Senate vote on a rules change even if it is destined to fail, a pressure tactic that would put senators on the record and fire up his partys base.

I believe our constituents deserve to know which Senators choose to hide behind ill-conceived and abused rules and which Senators prefer to restore Senate floor procedures to better align with the Founders intentions, he wrote.

Nord Stream 2 sanctions

As part of a deal struck with Sen. Ted CruzRafael (Ted) Edward CruzCruz: GOP will have 'multiple grounds to consider' for Biden impeachment if it wins House Judge blocks Pentagon from taking 'any adverse action' against sailors who have refused vaccine Will Putin sink Biden? MORE (R-Texas) to clear dozens of Biden nominees before Christmas, the Senate will vote on sanctions related to the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, which carries natural gas from Russia to Germany.

The pipeline has sparked bipartisan pushback in Congress, but also headaches for the administration as Cruz kept holds for months on Bidens State Department nominees.

Senators discussed three potential options: a vote on Cruzs bill at 60 votes, a vote on Cruzs bill as an amendment to a larger bill from Sen. Bob MenendezRobert (Bob) MenendezThe Hill's Morning Report - Presented by National Industries for the Blind - Manchin says no; White House fires back Democrats mull hardball tactics to leapfrog parliamentarian on immigration Rick Scott says White House hung up on him MORE (D-N.J.) that touches on Nord Stream 2 or competing and separate votes on the Menendez and Cruz bills.

In the end, the Senate agreed to vote on Cruzs bill by Jan. 14, where it will need 60 votes to advance. That means Cruz needs to peel off at least 10 Democrats.

The administration previously pressured Democrats to help block Cruzs amendment when it was offered to a sweeping defense bill in November. But Cruz, according to a source familiar with his thinking, believes he wins the January vote even with the higher threshold.

The vote comes at a precarious time for the administration, as Russia has beefed up its military presence along its border with Ukraine, raising fears of another invasion.

Funding the government

After Congress clears its January schedule, they will run almost immediately into another deadline to fund the government and preventa Valentine's week shutdown.

Lawmakers have until Feb. 18 to fund the government after passing a short-term stopgap bill in early December.

The top four appropriators Sens. Patrick LeahyPatrick Joseph LeahyThe Hill's 12:30 Report: Sen. Kaine, drivers stranded in I-95 backup Senate delays vote as DC hit by snowstorm Democratsreturn with lengthy to-do list MORE (D-Vt.) and Richard ShelbyRichard Craig ShelbyJessica Taylor drops out of Alabama Senate race Republicans say Mayorkas failed to deliver report on evacuated Afghans Democratsreturn with lengthy to-do list MORE (R-Ala.) and Reps. Rosa DeLauroRosa DeLauroDemocratsreturn with lengthy to-do list With soaring demand for meat, it's time to fund animal-free protein research Manchin undercuts Biden, leaving his agenda in limbo MORE (D-Conn.) and Kay GrangerNorvell (Kay) Kay GrangerDemocratsreturn with lengthy to-do list Lobbying world Two women could lead a powerful Senate spending panel for first time in history MORE (R-Texas) have met or spoken recently about how to break a months-long stalemate and make progress on full-year funding bills.

But so far theyve yet to hit a breakthrough, raising the prospect that Congress could need to use another stopgap, which continues funding at current levels, to get them deeper into 2022.

Republicans have warned that without a deal, Congress could need to accept a full-year continuing resolution, which would fund the government through Sept. 30. But Democrats have been loath to put that option on the table and, in a bid to talk down Republicans, warned that it would negatively impact the Pentagon.

Iraq War authorization

The Senate is expected to turn back to a years-long push to nix the military authorizations for the Iraq wars after hopes of a vote this year hit procedural stumbling blocks.

Kaine and Sen. Todd YoungTodd Christopher YoungDemocratsreturn with lengthy to-do list Don't just delay student debt, prevent it Senate confirms Rahm Emanuel to be ambassador to Japan MORE (R-Ind.) had expected to get a vote on their proposal which would repeal the 1991 and 2002 authorizations for the use of military force as part of a sweeping defense bill.

But amendment votes ran directly into a brick wall when Sen. Marco RubioMarco Antonio RubioTesla criticized for opening showroom in China's Xinjiang province Will Putin sink Biden? Democratsreturn with lengthy to-do list MORE (R-Fla.) blocked votes on a package of 25 amendments, including the Kaine-Young one, over a push to get his own legislation either voted on as an amendment or passed in the House.

Amid the stalemate, the Senate scrapped passing its own version of the defense bill and instead took up a compromise worked out between leaders on the House and Senate Armed Services committees. That did not include the repeal of the Iraq War authorizations.

Schumer hasnt yet said how he will bring the bill to the floor, but Kaine and Young have the 60 votes needed to break a likely GOP filibuster.

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Democrats return with lengthy to-do list | TheHill - The Hill