July Outlook 2022

Both the House and Senate are back today with a short window of time and a seemingly endless agenda ahead. The Senate technically returned yesterday and will remain in session through the first week of August (20 days total). The House, on the other hand, is currently scheduled to be in Washington for just twelve days before leaving for the full month of August. Given the extended August recess, the FY2022 fiscal year ending September 30th, and the ramping up of midterm elections, Congress will have to make meaningful progress on a number of legislative items in the July/August work period for any chance of successes this year. While post-Roe discussions, gun reform and continued hearings from the House Select Committee on the January 6th attack on the Capitol will continue to create headlines, work on other pressing issues will take up much of the energy this month (reconciliation, China legislation, NDAA). Notably, Majority Leader Schumer’s (D-NY) positive Covid test over the weekend could stifle immediate action on these items, but he’ll continue discussions remotely and likely return next week. Other pressing items, the regulatory agenda, and midterms outlook for July and August is included below.