| | | | |  | | By Katherine Tully-McManus | | | With help from Sarah Ferris RECESS REIGNS — It turns out senators were never going to let the precipice of war with Russia or a potential government shutdown keep them from the important things, like the Presidents Day recess. It kicked off last night with a vote to fund the government for 21 more days. The continuing resolution the Senate cleared last night is expected to get President Joe Biden's signature ahead of the midnight deadline. And then Congress will be right back in this situation in 3 short weeks. The Senate's top GOP appropriator, Sen. Richard Shelby of Alabama, was fairly optimistic Thursday about the ability to reach agreement on a massive 12-bill spending package by the new mid-March deadline. "We're coming along. We're coming along. I think there's a good chance we'll make it," said Shelby. "If we keep working in a bipartisan way, which we've been doing the last week or two, maybe we'll get there." Jennifer Scholtes can catch you up on the pre-passage CR drama. Related: Biden wants billions more in Covid funding. Lawmakers aren't eager to spend big — again from Alice Miranda Ollstein Now both chambers have retreated from Capitol Hill for a week-long recess. Some are headed to Munich or other CODELS, others are hitting the campaign trail or just working in their home states. But..what happened with Russia? The Senate eventually adopted a nonbinding resolution from Sens. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) and Rob Portman (R-Ohio) that simply expresses support for the people of Ukraine and condemns Russian troop buildup on the border. Andrew lays out how big, bold sanctions ended up as, well, a toothless nonbinding resolution: Why Congress' sanctions push cooled even as Russia's aggression didn't
| | | | STEP INSIDE THE WEST WING: What's really happening in West Wing offices? Find out who's up, who's down, and who really has the president's ear in our West Wing Playbook newsletter, the insider's guide to the Biden White House and Cabinet. For buzzy nuggets and details that you won't find anywhere else, subscribe today. | | | | | TGIF! Welcome to Huddle, the play-by-play guide to all things Capitol Hill, on this Friday, February 18, where we'll never see Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney (D-N.Y.) the same (more on that below). Programming Note: We'll be off this Monday for President's Day but will be back in your inboxes on Tuesday. SIGN UP TODAY: HUDDLE TRIVIA LIVE! — On Feb. 23 at 8 p.m., the POLITICO Congress team behind Huddle is whipping up our first-ever virtual trivia night. Prizes for the winners and for best team name (along with bragging rights) are on the table. Teams from Hill offices and our press corps competitors are already signed up! RSVP solo or with a team to Huddle (please include team name in the message). Registration is free. We'll send sign-up instructions. MARCHING TOWARD MARCH — Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) filed cloture on the motion to proceed to a bill to bar states from implementing the sweeping abortion restrictions that are currently being debated in state legislatures across the country. Alice notes that it doesn't have anywhere near the 60 votes it would need to pass given opposition from all Republicans, Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and potentially other Democrats. Schumer also announced that the Senate will take up legislation aimed at lowering the cost of insulin: "Senator [Raphael] Warnock has introduced legislation that will cap insulin costs to just $35 a month. There's enormous interest in our caucus to pursue this proposal, so it will be a priority for Democrats in the weeks ahead," said Schumer. He also promised action on the House-passed postal reform bill when the chamber returns. WHO'S DINING OUT ON RESTAURANT AID? — Restaurants and their allies have been begging Congress for another aid package. But the politics aren't in their favor. With the virus receding in much of the country, White House officials are skeptical of adding more money for bars and restaurants in their next — and possibly final — relief package. The administration is concerned it's unnecessary and would inflate the package's price tag, and have questioned whether the situation facing restaurants is truly as dire as industry groups have portrayed. But there are some lawmakers who say they won't give up the fight, noting that the first-come-first-serve program ran out before two-thirds of applicants could get any of the funds. Rep. Dean Phillips (D-Minn.) put it this way: "There are literally restaurants who received funding, and across the street, another one, just as qualified, got approved and got nothing. I think it's grotesque." Adam Cancryn, Sarah and Nicholas have more. SENATORS SKIPPING MAR-A-LAGO — Even when they were just down the road at a campaign retreat in Palm Beach last weekend, very few Senate Republicans bothered to pay a visit to the former president at Mar-a-Lago, reports Burgess "Some Republicans who traveled to Florida for the National Republican Senatorial Committee event said they weren't snubbing Trump, who has pushed in vain to depose Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, and would be visiting with him soon. And several wouldn't be welcome, since some senators who voted to convict the president at his second impeachment trial were among those wooing donors at the NRSC events. But other Republicans said hanging out with their onetime commander-in-chief is the furthest thing from their minds." Burgess and Meridith McGraw break down the Trump tightrope senators are walking.
| | | | A message from THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY CANCER ACTION NETWORK: Medicaid expansion means earlier cancer diagnoses and improved survival rates. But more than 2 million people — the majority of whom are people of color — are missing out on the lifesaving care they need because of hurdles to affordable, comprehensive health coverage in states that haven't expanded Medicaid. It's time for all Americans to have equitable access to care. Congress, close the coverage gap to remove hurdles to cancer care. | | | CHENEY CHALLENGE— House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) is backing a primary challenger against Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.), an uncommon move for a party leader but not exactly shocking. McCarthy has been under persistent pressure from Trump-allied conservatives to remove her from the House Republican Conference, which she chaired until last year. McCarthy joins Trump in endorsing Harriet Hageman. "The most successful Representatives in Congress focus on the needs of their constituents, and throughout her career, Harriet has championed America's natural resources and helped the people of Wyoming reject burdensome and onerous government overreach," McCarthy's statement reads. He added, "I look forward to welcoming Harriet to a Republican majority next Congress." Olivia has more on McCarthy's move. Remember when? As chair of the House GOP Conference, Cheney donated $2,500 to Todd McMurtry, who mounted an unsuccessful challenge to Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.). That isn't ancient history. It was March 2020. (She dropped the dough just four days after Massie forced House members to return to Washington from around the country for a vote on a bipartisan stimulus bill… Cheney wasn't the only member miffed.) STAFF BOARDS BAND TOGETHER — The boards of the Women's Congressional Staff Association, Community Service Staff Association, Hispanic Staff Association, Jewish Staff Association, Korean American Staff Association, Modernization Staff Association and the Senate Gay, Lesbian, and Allies Senate Staff (GLASS) Caucus wrote a joint letter to House and Senate leadership about the recent spotlight on abusive working conditions, low pay and lack of diversity among Hill Staff. They're asking tough questions about data collection, recourses staffers have and if the systems in place are empowered to take action. Read the full letter from seven staff associations. WHAT I'M READING — The Congressional Digital Service Pilot Report, from TechCongress & GAO Report: The Capitol Police Need Clearer Emergency Procedures and a Comprehensive Security Risk Assessment Process
| | | | DON'T MISS CONGRESS MINUTES: Need to follow the action on Capitol Hill blow-by-blow? Check out Minutes, POLITICO's new platform that delivers the latest exclusives, twists and much more in real time. Get it on your desktop or download the POLITICO mobile app for iOS or Android. CHECK OUT CONGRESS MINUTES HERE. | | | | | | | | Who wore it best?... Who wore the vest best? Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) or NBA player James Harden? Decide for yourself, here. h/t Tia Yang. Chairman Theron, incoming… Burgess spotted a dog trotting along behind Sen. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) Thursday morning. Crapo couldn't ID the dog, who made his merry way into a hearing room. But many hours later, Crapo tweeted out a photo of the grinning pup: "Welcome to the Crapo staff, Theron!" Turns out it was the dog's first day in the office and he hadn't met the boss yet. Sean Patrick Malon-E? DCCC chief rolls towards November?… DCCC Chair Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney (D-N.Y.) reminisced during a "Morning Joe" appearance on Thursday about the "very pure" MDMA he enjoyed in college. Your Huddle host cannot stop thinking about it. What's next, a D-Trip Trip? "I was at UVA. The MDMA was really pure. And we enjoyed R.E.M., and I went all kind of places," said Maloney . Anthony reviewed the tape and has more on the *very candid* moment. Ecsta-see you at the midterms, I guess. Mark your calendars… The Modernization Staff Association and the Women's Congressional Staff Association are teaming up to hold a Legislative Correspondent Skills Workshop next Thursday at 3 p.m. on Zoom. RSVP for some skill building . The Congressional Progressive Staff Association is going on a hike this weekend and wants you to join . QUICK LINKS Senators look to expand homeless assistance for sexual-assault survivors, from Erin Durkin at National Journal TRANSITIONS
Who's coming to the Hill, bailing out or moving on up?
| | | | A message from THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY CANCER ACTION NETWORK:   | | | TODAY IN CONGRESS The House convenes at 10 a.m. for a pro forma session. The Senate convenes at 9 a.m. for a pro forma session. AROUND THE HILL Quiet as the mice that are gonna go wild at the Capitol during recess.
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THURSDAY'S WINNER: Emery Real Bird correctly answered that Frank Orren Lowden was nominated for vice president at the 1924 Republican National Convention but declined the nomination.
TODAY'S QUESTION: Who is the last member of Congress — incumbent or former — to receive a Supreme Court appointment? Hint: He refused to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee on his nomination. The first person to correctly guess gets a mention in the next edition of Huddle. Send your answers to ktm@politico.com. GET HUDDLE emailed to your phone each morning. Follow Katherine on Twitter @ktullymcmanus | | | | A message from THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY CANCER ACTION NETWORK: Where you live shouldn't determine if you live. Increased access to health coverage through Medicaid expansion has resulted in earlier stage cancer diagnosis, improved access to timely treatment and survival rates, and reduced health disparities compared to those living with cancer in states that have refused to expand.
It's time for all Americans to have equitable access to care. Congress, close the Medicaid coverage gap to remove hurdles to cancer care for more than 2 million people. | | | | | | | Follow us | | | | |
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