The Senate is in session this week, while the House is not expected to conduct any legislative business until February 4. The Senate is scheduled to begin the week by taking up the $50.5 billion supplemental spending bill (HR 152) for Hurricane Sandy relief, recovery and mitigation efforts, which was passed by the House on January 15. The Senate is scheduled to begin debate on the measure Monday evening. If the measure passes the Senate as expected, it will go to President Obama for his signature. The Senate is also expected to consider the nomination of Senator John Kerry (D-MA) for Secretary of State this week.

Later in the week, the Senate may also take up the proposal (HR 325) passed by the House last week to temporarily suspend the federal borrowing limit. The proposal would suspend enforcement of the debt ceiling through May 18 and then subsequently raise the limit, currently $16.4 trillion, to cover any debt accumulated during the suspension period. In addition, the measure includes a “no budget, no pay” provision, which requires that each chamber pass a budget resolution by April 15 in order for the lawmakers of that chamber to get paid. If a chamber fails to pass a budget, the members of that chamber would not receive their salaries until the end of the 113^th session in early 2015.

Links: HR 152; HR 325