Hoyer: House could be in session until late December

Nov 11 2009

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) today said "he is prepared to extend the House healthcare schedule into late December in order to pass healthcare reform," The Hill reports. "Two weeks ago, Hoyer said that the House could work as late as Nov. 24 in order to pass healthcare reform. Now he says that the House could be in session as late as Dec. 22 to vote on a final bill should it emerge from conference" (Fabian, 11/11)

Roll Call also reports on the changing House calendar. "'As action on health insurance reform legislation moves to the Senate, the House is updating its schedule for November and December to reflect that, and to ensure there is time to complete our work on other important issues,' Hoyer said in a statement." Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, from Nevada, has kept open "the possibility of working on Saturday, Nov. 21, the weekend before the Thanksgiving recess. Both chambers are scheduled to be in recess the following week for the Thanksgiving holiday, observed Nov. 26" (Brady, 11/11).