Inside (the Beltway) Scoop

By: Ellen Kuo
Wednesday, January 8, 2025
119th Congress Gavels In

On January 3, the 119th Congress came into session with its first major order of business - selecting the new House Speaker. Rep. Mike Johnson held the leadership position in the last Congress and held the esteem and public support of President-elect Donald Trump. However, after the vote in December to continue to fund the government until March 14, 2025, under H.R. 10545, also known as the American Relief Act, grievances against Johnson grew amongst some House members. Reps. Ralph Norman and Keith Self had to be convinced with some off-the-House-floor conversations to change their votes to back him during the first ballot so that Johnson reached the 218 vote threshold he needed to become Speaker. All 215 Democrats voted for Hakeem Jeffries, who had served as House minority leader and Leader of the House Democratic Caucus since 2023.

The Senate also returned to conduct proceedings from the Vice President swearing in the newly elected members of the Senate, administrating the oath of office of the President Pro Tempore, and agreeing to S. Con. Res. 1, extending the life of the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies among its other activities. Senator John Thune’s gave his first remarks as the Senate majority leader where he stated his priorities of ensuring that the Senate stays the Senate by preserving the legislative filibuster, restoring the Senate as a place of discussion and deliberation, which includes empowering committees, restoring regular order, and engaging in extended debate on the Senate floor, where all members should have a chance to make their voices – and the voices of their constituents – heard. The Senate will also be considering legislative issues such as improving border security, extending the tax relief Republicans delivered during the first Trump administration, lifting burdensome and expensive government regulations, providing for our nation’s defense, bringing appropriations bills to the floor for serious deliberation, and completing an overdue farm bill to update farm programs to reflect current agriculture needs.