NOVEMBER 9, 2026
Welcome to the lame duck! Congress is back with Republicans still in charge (for now), and the outgoing Republican majority has a lot it wants to do before January. This week brings a Senate fight over permitting, a likely House vote on impeaching Hegseth, and leadership races that will shape the GOP's next chapter. Read on for more details.
House
House Floor
The House will vote on 14 suspension bills from the Committees on Energy and Commerce; Veterans' Affairs; and Small Business. Suspension bills require a ⅔ majority to pass. For a list of all suspension bills being considered, click here.
This week the House will also consider the following bill, subject to a rule:
NEW H.R. 1013 · Retirement Fairness for Charities and Educational Institutions Act of 2025
Financial Services · Sponsored by Rep. Frank Lucas (OK-03)
This bill would allow 403(b) retirement plans, which are commonly used by teachers and other public and nonprofit employees, to invest in a broader range of bank- and insurance-based investment products. Supporters of the bill argue it would give 403(b) participants access to lower-cost investment options already available in many 401(k) plans, while opponents, including Ranking Member Maxine Waters, warn it could weaken safeguards by expanding access to less-regulated investments without comparable investor protections.
More on this:
•H. Rept. 119-390 - Retirement Fairness for Charities and Educational Institutions Act of 2025 (Committee on Financial Services Minority)
*Additional legislative items are possible.*
House Committee Highlights
A full list of this week's hearings and markups can be found here. Notable hearings and markups include:
WEDNESDAY HEARINGS
The Rise of Sports Gambling on College Campuses (Committee on Education and Workforce)
THURSDAY HEARINGS
One Year Later: Assessing Nigeria's Efforts to Protect Christians and Secure the Middle Belt (Committee on Foreign Affairs)
FRIDAY HEARINGS
Field Hearing - Workers in Charge: Restoring Choice and Accountability in the Workplace (Committee on Education and Workforce)
Senate
Senate Floor
The Senate will vote on the following legislation:
NEW S. 5653 · Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act of 2026
Energy and Natural Resources · Sponsored by Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (WV)
This bill would deregulate federal environmental permitting processes to speed approval of energy and infrastructure projects, including by limiting the scope of environmental reviews under the National Environmental Policy Act, shortening review timelines, and reducing Clean Water Act and Endangered Species Act requirements.
More on this:
•Summary of Changes Contained in Substitute Amendment to BAAJA (Senate ENR and EPW Democrats)
Senate Committee Highlights
A full list of this week's hearings and markups can be found here. Notable hearings and markups include:
TUESDAY HEARINGS
Hearing on the Nomination of Justin Schwab to be Assistant Administrator for the Office of Air and Radiation of the Environmental Protection Agency (Committee on Environment and Public Works)
Nomination of Catherine Eschbach to be General Counsel of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions)
Full Committee Hearing to Consider Pending Nomination of Dennis Kirk to be Inspector General of the Department of the Interior (Committee on Energy and Natural Resources)
Hearing to Consider the Pending Nominations of Francis Browne; Christopher Abbott; and Robert Stebbins (Committee on Finance)
Hearing to Consider Nominations for the U.S. Department of Transportation, the Federal Communications Commission, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation)
Business Meeting to Consider S. 5289, Right to Worship Act (Committee on the Judiciary)
Issues to Watch
House poised to vote on Hegseth impeachment
Outgoing Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY-04) is poised to force the House to vote this week on impeaching Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Among his eight articles of impeachment, Massie accuses Hegseth of continuing the war in Iran after both chambers directed the removal of U.S. forces, carrying out illegal and deadly strikes on boats in the Caribbean, seizing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro without legal authority, and retaliating against Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ), a retired Navy captain, for telling troops they could refuse unlawful military orders. Massie first filed the articles in September, but Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA-04) sent the House home early before a vote could happen.
Now, with some Republicans blaming the Iran war for their midterm losses, GOP leaders are bracing for defections. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY-08) says he's a "hard yes" and expects strong support from his caucus. If Democrats stick together, a handful of Republicans could put impeachment over the top, and it could take even fewer if members who lost their seats skip the vote. Even still, removal remains a long shot in the Senate. Hegseth has vowed to fight impeachment, and Trump says he has "every intention" of keeping him.
Leadership elections take shape
House and Senate Republicans are expected to elect their leaders this week. With Speaker Mike Johnson stepping aside, Majority Leader Steve Scalise and Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan are locked in a tight race to lead the House GOP, a rematch of their 2023 speaker fight. Every other House GOP leadership post is contested too, and President Trump is staying out of it. In the Senate, current Majority Leader John Thune is running unopposed, though some conservatives want to delay the vote.
Across the aisle, Democrats are preparing for their own set of leadership elections. Even as some members have expressed frustration with the party's leadership in both chambers and several incoming lawmakers have declined to commit to supporting existing minority leaders Chuck Schumer or Hakeem Jeffries, no challenger has emerged for either role. In the House, Hakeem Jeffries, Katherine Clark, and Pete Aguilar are running unopposed for speaker, majority leader, and majority whip, respectively. If elected, they would become the first Black speaker, first woman majority leader, and first Latino majority whip. In the Senate, Chuck Schumer says he has the votes to return as majority leader, but several incoming senators have withheld support, and a fight over the filibuster could turn the race into a real contest.
What We're Reading
The working class is more diverse than ever before (Economic Policy Institute)
How a Mississippi election came down to the clerk's office (Washington Post)
Democrats Vow to Reset "Values and Agenda" for House Natural Resources Committee (Inside Climate News)
Key Dates
November: Native American Heritage Month
November 11: Veterans Day
November 26: Thanksgiving
November 23–27: House and Senate in recess
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