{"id":2481210,"date":"2025-09-01T17:18:01","date_gmt":"2025-09-01T21:18:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/four-things-to-watch-in-congress-after-august-recess\/"},"modified":"2025-09-01T17:19:27","modified_gmt":"2025-09-01T21:19:27","slug":"four-things-to-watch-in-congress-after-august-recess","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/four-things-to-watch-in-congress-after-august-recess\/","title":{"rendered":"Four things to watch in Congress after August recess"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Ffour-things-to-watch-in-congress-after-august-recess%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2481210&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The article from the washington Examiner outlines four key issues to watch in the U.S.Congress following the August recess. First,lawmakers face a looming government shutdown on October 1 if federal funding legislation is not passed by the end of September. The White House is pushing for a clean continuing resolution to avoid a shutdown, while negotiations between republicans and Democrats remain tense, especially after President Trump&#8217;s unilateral cut of nearly $5 billion in foreign aid.<\/p>\n<p>Second, there is renewed pressure to release Jeffrey Epstein-related files. Representatives Ro Khanna (D-CA) and Thomas Massie (R-KY) plan to use a parliamentary discharge petition to force the Justice Department to disclose these documents, even hosting a press conference with Epstein victims to highlight their efforts.<\/p>\n<p>Third, the confirmation hearing of Stephen Miran, Trump&#8217;s nominee to the Federal Reserve Board of Governors, is scheduled. This hearing is significant amid Trump&#8217;s efforts to shape the Fed&#8217;s direction and ahead of an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wake-up-with-the-washington-examiner-walzs-tough-follow-up-act-and-one-thing-bidens-doj-is-concerned-about-washington-examiner\/\" title=\"Wake up with the ... Examiner: Walz\u2019s tough follow...up act and one thing Biden\u2019s DOJ is concerned about ... ... Examiner\">expected interest rate cut<\/a> at the upcoming Federal Open Market Committee meeting.<\/p>\n<p>the White House aims to advance a second reconciliation bill, focusing on tax reforms, spending cuts, and technical corrections to earlier legislation. Additional legislative priorities include education funding rescissions, the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act, a crime and beautification bill for the District of Columbia, the National Defense Authorization Act, a potential stock trading ban for lawmakers, and possible changes to Senate confirmation rules.<\/p>\n<p>Congress returns with a heavy agenda involving budget, oversight, regulatory, and legislative initiatives that coudl shape the political and economic landscape going forward. <br \/> <!DOCTYPE html><br \/>\n<?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><html><body><\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Four things to watch in Congress after August recess<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2218395\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>Lawmakers will return to Washington, D.C., this week after their August recess with a long to-do list.<\/p>\n<p>Republicans&rsquo; passage of President <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Donald Trump<\/a>&lsquo;s &ldquo;one big, beautiful bill,&rdquo; which he signed into law on Independence Day, started their summer. However, their fall is poised to be defined by the prospect of a government shutdown.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/3789011\/trump-india-offered-cut-tariffs-on-us-to-nothing\/\">Trump says India has offered to cut its tariffs on the US &#8216;to nothing&#8217;<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/3789052\/scott-bessent-big-economic-pickup-2026-national-housing-emergency\/\">Bessent predicts &#8216;big economic pickup in 2026&#8217;&nbsp;and possible <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/bessent-predicts-big-economic-pickup-in-2026-and-possible-national-housing-emergency-declaration-this-fall\/\" title=\"Bessent predicts &#039;big economic pickup in 2026&#039;\u00a0and possible national housing emergency declaration this fall\">national housing emergency declaration<\/a> this fall<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/in_focus\/3788341\/red-states-cost-cutting-brand-doge-copycats\/\">Red states lean into cost-cutting brand with DOGE copycats<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Here is what the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> is watching this week regarding <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/congress\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Congress<\/a>:<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-government-shutdown-talks\">Government shutdown talks<\/h2>\n<p>The federal government could shut down on Oct. 1 if Congress does not pass funding legislation by the end of September.<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/white-house\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">White House<\/a> has dismissed concerns that Trump&rsquo;s decision last week to unilaterally rescind almost $5 billion in foreign aid will discourage Democrats from negotiating with Republicans regarding a bipartisan spending deal. To that end, Democratic congressional leadership has implored their counterparts to start talks as soon as practicable, considering any piece of legislation will require 60 votes in the Senate.<\/p>\n<p>During a phone call last week, a senior White House official told reporters the administration is seeking a clean continuing resolution, which typically keeps the government open by <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >extending existing funding levels<\/a>, and is preparing to apportion responsibility to Democrats if they do not succeed.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s very hard for me to believe that they&rsquo;re going to oppose a clean CR that would cause them to be responsible for a government shutdown,&rdquo; the official said.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-jeffrey-epstein-files-push\">Jeffrey Epstein files push<\/h2>\n<p>Despite Trump and Republican leadership&rsquo;s hopes that the August recess would dissipate concerns regarding the administration&rsquo;s management of the federal government&rsquo;s files related to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/jeffrey-epstein\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Jeffrey Epstein<\/a>, Reps.&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/ro-khanna\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Ro Khanna<\/a>&nbsp;(D-CA) and&nbsp;Thomas Massie&nbsp;(R-KY) are expected on Tuesday to use a parliamentary procedure called a discharge petition to pressure the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/justice-department\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Justice Department<\/a> to release the documents.<\/p>\n<p>The bipartisan discharge petition allows the pair to introduce their Epstein bill on the House floor without a committee report.<\/p>\n<p>To amplify their move, Khanna and Massie are planning to host a press conference on Wednesday with 10 victims of Epstein.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-federal-reserve-governor-confirmation-hearing\">Federal Reserve governor confirmation hearing<\/h2>\n<p>Trump&rsquo;s attempts to have a majority on the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/federal-reserve\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Federal Reserve board of governors<\/a> by pushing out former President <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/joe-biden\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Joe Biden<\/a>&lsquo;s appointee Lisa Cook over allegations of mortgage fraud come as his pick to replace former governor Adriana Kugler, White House Council of Economic Advisers Chairman Stephen Miran, is expected on Thursday to come before the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/senate-finance-committee\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Senate Finance Committee<\/a> for his confirmation hearing.<\/p>\n<p>Kugler announced her resignation in August, six months before her term was supposed to expire.<\/p>\n<p>If confirmed quickly, Miran, a former hedge fund investor and Fed critic, could attend the Federal Open Market Committee&rsquo;s next meeting from Sept. 16-17. Fed Chairman Jerome Powell is expected to cut <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/interest-rates\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">interest rates<\/a> during that meeting after pressure from Trump to do so.<\/p>\n<p>Other confirmation hearings on the Senate&rsquo;s agenda include that of E.J. Antoni, Trump&rsquo;s nominee to become the next Bureau of Labor Statistics commissioner after Erika McEntarfer was fired last month following dramatic downward revisions to June and July&rsquo;s jobs report.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-another-reconciliation-bill\">Another reconciliation bill?<\/h2>\n<p>A White House official told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> that Trump&rsquo;s priorities after the &ldquo;one big, beautiful bill,&rdquo; other than promoting that piece of legislation, include passing more reconciliation legislation.<\/p>\n<p>The reconciliation process only requires a simple majority of 51 votes in the Senate.<\/p>\n<p>The second reconciliation bill is poised to include more <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/taxes\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">tax code reforms<\/a>, spending cuts, and technical fixes to the &ldquo;one big, beautiful bill.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/3787823\/trump-firings-show-dissent-can-be-one-way-ticket-exile\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>TRUMP&rsquo;S HIGH-PROFILE FIRINGS SHOW DISSENT IN 2.0 CAN BE A &lsquo;ONE-WAY TICKET TO EXILE&rsquo;<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>There is also likely to be another rescissions bill regarding <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/education\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">education<\/a> funding, another push to pass the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act, which would address a problem with March&rsquo;s&nbsp;continuing resolution&nbsp;that prevented&nbsp;the district&nbsp;from relying on its fiscal 2025 budget, and even what Trump is describing as a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/crime\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">crime<\/a> and beautification bill inspired by his federal takeover of the district.<\/p>\n<p>This is not to mention the annual National Defense Authorization Act, a possible stock trading ban for lawmakers, and possible changes to the Senate&rsquo;s confirmation rules.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script> <\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Four key issues to watch in Congress after August recess<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2652,"featured_media":2481211,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/congress.webp?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[57569,4402,44929,33017,35785],"class_list":["post-2481210","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-august-recess","tag-congress","tag-legislative-priorities","tag-political-analysis","tag-us-government"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/congress.webp?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2481210","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2652"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2481210"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2481210\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2481214,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2481210\/revisions\/2481214"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2481211"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2481210"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2481210"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2481210"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}