Johnson Lays Out Legislative Agenda Ahead Of Speaker Vote

Republican nominee for Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mike Johnson (R-LA), has issued a 'letter to colleagues' outlining his legislative agenda for the remaining period of the 118th Congress, should he win the gavel today.

• The letter can be read here: Letter
• Johnson notes that he will pursue a stopgap measure (Continuing Resolution) to avoid a government shutdown on November 17 if the House cannot pass their 12 appropriations bills. This will be Johnson's first significant test of his speakership as a CR will certainly be required. Remember: Moving a CR with Democrat support was the ostensible reason for conservatives to vacate the chair and oust former speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA).
• Johnson says he will pursue a CR through January 15 or April 15 based upon conference consensus, and to avoid the Senate "jamming the House" with a last-minute Omnibus package.
• Notably, Johnson suggests that the House will not be recessed in August '24 unless all appropriations work is complete.
• Johnson writes: "This is an ambitious schedule, but if our Speaker can work across the Conference to unify our membership and build consensus, we can achieve our necessary objectives."
• Voting on Johnson's nomination is set to get underway in around 45 mins. See previous bullet for details on the voting process: Speaker Vote