WASHINGTON — Congress is returning to work after the Thanksgiving holiday for a lame-duck session that is Democrats’ last chance to pass legislation before Republicans take over the House of Representatives in January.
On the docket is the bipartisan Respect for Marriage Act pushed by Wisconsin Sen. Tammy Baldwin that would codify same-sex and interracial marriage protections into federal law. The push comes after the U.S. Supreme Court’s abortion decision this summer.
“We, I think, have to agree on a bipartisan basis that that work needs to get done, that the National Defense Authorization Act, the omnibus appropriations bill, the Respect for Marriage Act (are passed),” Baldwin previously told News 3 Now.
The senator told News 3 Now earlier this month she believed the legislation had enough support to overcome any filibuster attempt.
RELATED: Baldwin: Senate close on same-sex marriage bill
“We expect to have a slim bipartisan majority — 60, 61 votes — in order to get onto the bill,” Baldwin said. “But I actually think you’ll see the strength of support growth throughout the debate.”
The bill is expected to be taken up in the Senate this week as part of a slate of lame-duck legislation that also includes the Electoral Count Act, which would clarify the Electoral College process in the wake of the riot at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021.
While the House will soon be controlled by Republicans, Democrats will keep control of the Senate and could secure a 51-seat majority if incumbent Georgia Sen. Raphael Warnock comes out on top in the state’s runoff election next week.
COPYRIGHT 2022 BY CHANNEL 3000. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THIS MATERIAL MAY NOT BE PUBLISHED, BROADCAST, REWRITTEN OR REDISTRIBUTED.
