USA (Washington Insider Magazine) – Only 78 public legislation have been passed by the 118th Congress as its closing days draw near, making it one of the least productive sessions in recent memory. There are 35 days left in the calendar year to do business in Washington, D.C., so it is unlikely that the number of legislation passed will increase dramatically. Whether there was a single party in power or a divided administration, Congress has historically passed hundreds of laws each session.
Throughout the 19 months of this session, lawmakers attempted to advance bipartisan legislation on critical issues such as immigration policy, railway safety, tax law, and online safety for children. However, these initiatives failed to reach final approval, with most efforts falling short due to deep divisions within Congress. While must-pass items like annual government funding bills were eventually approved, they were consistently delayed, often finalized months behind schedule. Another stopgap spending bill is likely needed as the fiscal year deadline looms.
Political Divisions and Infighting Stall Progress
According to Marylandmatters, several factors have contributed to the slow pace of legislative progress. Election-year politics and reduced time on Capitol Hill have significantly hampered productivity. Partisan infighting and growing ideological divides between and within the political parties have made consensus difficult. Analysts note that these internal divisions, exacerbated by ambitions to shift power in both the House and Senate, have added further obstacles to legislative negotiations.
House Speaker Turmoil Reflects Broader Legislative Dysfunction
The challenges faced by the 118th Congress were evident from the outset. In January 2023, House Republicans struggled through 15 rounds of voting before electing California Rep. Kevin McCarthy as Speaker, following contentious backroom deals and internal conflicts. Less than nine months later, McCarthy was ousted from his position, leaving the House in disarray. Louisiana’s Mike Johnson eventually took over as Speaker, but the turmoil underscored the difficulties in achieving legislative coherence.
Senate’s Immigration Reform Efforts Collapse
The Senate spent significant time confirming President Joe Biden’s nominees but faced its legislative struggles. A promising bipartisan effort to reform border security and immigration policy disintegrated in February after former President Donald Trump opposed the initiative. The failure of this and other negotiations has made lawmakers hesitant to engage in future compromise efforts, further stalling progress on critical issues.
Lame-Duck Session Offers Little Hope for Legislative Breakthroughs
There is little opportunity for Congress to enact any significant legislation before the end of the year as they get ready for a short September session that will be followed by another break. The creation and passage of a temporary budget bill will probably take precedence to avert a partial government shutdown. While some bipartisan initiatives might advance during the lame-duck session, a lot will rely on how the forthcoming elections turn out and whether there will be any unrest as a consequence.
Members of Congress have varied responses when asked about their accomplishments this session. Sen. Jerry Moran stresses individual accomplishments above the legislative output, while Sen. Chris Van Hollen highlights achievements from the previous Congress. Longtime lawmakers like Sen. Chuck Grassley protest the reduced workweeks, pointing out that Congress is less able to adequately address the problems the country faces because of the short sessions.
As the 118th Congress limps to the finish line, its lack of productivity underscores the significant challenges posed by deep political divisions and a fractured legislative process.
