The House of Representatives’ calendar has been completely empty for more than a month.
Lawmakers, including House Republicans, have long lamented the optics of Speaker Mike Johnson keeping the House out of session, and Democrats have seized on the opportunity to blast the GOP as “on vacation” when members could be advancing appropriations bills to reopen the government.
But it’s not just shutdown negotiations that are at a standstill. Lawmakers are concerned that progress on their other legislative priorities is stalled without representatives physically in Washington. The casualties include hearings, committee markups, swearing-in ceremonies and votes.