Senators will obtain a safety briefing on the inauguration Tuesday afternoon forward of the Jan. 20 occasion. The Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies has mentioned that President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris will likely be sworn in on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol.
Schumer is asking on the Senate to return instantly after the House sends over the article of impeachment, citing using emergency authorities granted to Senate leaders in 2004. But that might require buy-in from Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) who has informed his caucus the trial wouldn’t start till Jan. 19 on the earliest absent a unanimous consent settlement.
Despite the forthcoming impeachment trial, Schumer wrote in his letter that the chamber will nonetheless work to verify Biden’s Cabinet nominees instantly.
“The violent insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on January 6th showed us we need qualified Senate-confirmed people (not in an acting capacity) in key national security positions on Day One,” Schumer wrote. “The economic challenges our nation faces also require having key economic nominees confirmed and on the job ASAP.”
The New York Democrat additionally informed the caucus that the primary legislative precedence will likely be crafting one other coronavirus aid package deal that can embrace $2,000 checks and extra sources for vaccine distribution.
In addition, Schumer mentioned that Democrats will contemplate laws associated to local weather change, well being care, felony justice reform, immigration and the tax code. He added that Democrats will transfer ahead, even when they don’t obtain help from Republicans.
“The Senate works best when we are working together with our Republican colleagues,” Schumer wrote. “However, if our Republican colleagues decide not to partner with us in our efforts to address these issues, we will not let that stop progress.”
Despite their razor-thin majority, Senate Democrats nonetheless face a 60-vote threshold for main laws. While Democrats can use reconciliation as a method to enact many legislative priorities,
