The House and Senate will be back in session this week, having passed a continuing funding resolution before the Thanksgiving recess that will keep the government funded through January. While this means there will not be a year-end showdown that would threaten a shutdown, difficult negotiations remain over emergency funding for Ukraine and Israel military assistance, increased border security funding, and the annual defense authorization bill.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) has made clear that he plans to focus the Senate on national security issues and has indicated he is willing to keep the Senate in session past the Dec. 15 adjournment target date if necessary to complete work on funding for Ukraine and Israel. House Republican leadership, however, may prefer to wait until January, closer to the end date of the current continuing resolution, to take up a vote on supplemental emergency funding.

A key to moving forward on emergency funding appears to be possible bipartisan agreement in the Senate on increased funding for border security along the U.S.-Mexico border, coupled with policy changes to both asylum and parole policies – top priorities for House Republicans. Senate discussions continue on a compromise that could be included in a supplemental funding measure.