Monday: Senate looking for progress on 2013 spending bill

The Senate meets at 2 p.m., and is hoping to be in a position to advance the 2013 continuing spending bill by the end of the day.

Democratic leaders said last week that at 5:30 p.m. today, the Senate would either start holding votes on a series of agreed amendments to the bill, or vote to end debate on the measure to wrap it up quickly.

Any Senate tweaks to the House-passed bill, H.R. 933, would have to be sent back to the House. House Republicans are prepared to vote on these changes if that happens.

Senators are hoping to quickly dispose of the bill so they can move to the Senate Democratic budget for 2014.

The House meets at noon for speeches, then at 2 p.m. for legislative work. The only items on the agenda today are two resolutions:

H.Con.Res. 18, authorizing the National Peace Officers' Memorial Service to take place on the grounds of the Capitol, and

H.Con.Res. 19, authorizing the Greater Washington Soap Box Derby to take place at the Capitol.

Votes on these resolutions, if needed, will take place at 6:30 p.m.

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