Senate

Snow scrambles Senate schedule

by Jordain Carney - 03/21/18 11:35 AM ET

A spring snowstorm that has shuttered much of Washington is throwing the Senate’s schedule into flux.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said on Wednesday that he has spoken with Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) about moving up a slate of votes to “accommodate safe travel.”

{mosads}”I’d like this morning to give an update for my colleagues, given the challenges associated with the weather and also as we move toward a conclusion of the omnibus. … It’s my expectation we’ll move forward with votes today … moving them up in the day, hopefully, to accommodate safe travel,” McConnell announced from the Senate floor.

The Senate is currently scheduled to have three votes around 4:30 p.m. on legislation to combat sex trafficking.

It’s unclear how quickly the votes could be rescheduled. McConnell said senators would be notified when votes are scheduled.

The snowstorm has forced a slate of closures around Washington. The White House on Wednesday canceled its public events, federal offices are closed and schools in the area are shut down for the day.

The inclement weather comes as Congress is racing to prevent a government shutdown set to begin Friday at midnight.

Leaders indicated they are close to an agreement as they emerged from a meeting on Wednesday morning.

Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) said they were “finalizing the details” of agreement and “expect to post something very soon.”

“We feel like we’re in a good place,” he said.

Ryan declined to say when the House will vote directing questions to House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.).

Schumer said leadership was still going over language but that “we hope we’ll be ready to go in a few hours.”