Wednesday: Highway funding, VA firing

by Jordain Carney - 07/29/15 9:26 AM ET

House lawmakers will vote Wednesday on a three-month extension of federal highway spending, before leaving Washington for the August recess.

The short-term extension will allow Congress to avoid a gap in federal infrastructure funding, which is set to expire at the end of the week.

{mosads}First votes in the House are expected between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. Final votes in the House before the month-long break are expected between 6:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

The House will also take up legislation that makes it easier for the Department of Veterans Affairs to fire or demote employees.

Meanwhile, the Senate is pushing forward with its six-year bill, paving the way for a final vote this week.

Majority Leader Mitch McConnell signaled Tuesday that the Senate would also pass the House’s short-term extension, which leadership suggested would give the lower chamber more time to work out a long-term bill.

The Senate is expected to vote Wednesday on adopting a key substitute amendment to the highway legislation, as well as voting on whether or not to end debate on the underlying House-passed shell bill.

Under the rules, if senators vote to end debate that will start a 30-hour clock until senators can take a final vote on the bill, unless lawmakers agree to yield back time.

That would put a final vote on the highway bill around noon Thursday.

Tags Mitch McConnell