Week of Nov. 24, 2024

This is "Arkies in the Beltway" for the week of Nov. 24, 2024. I'm Alex Thomas, Washington Correspondent for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, with your look at national politics and the Arkansans influencing the discussions.

Members of Congress are away from Capitol Hill this week for Thanksgiving.

When they return to Washington, it will be a three-week sprint to complete work for the 118th Congress.

Top items of concern include avoiding a government shutdown on Dec. 20 and the White House's $98.4 billion request addressing natural disaster recovery efforts.

Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark., anticipates Congress will approve a short-term extension of the farm bill in December as Republicans and Democrats continue to struggle with finalizing a bipartisan proposal.

Michigan Democrat Debbie Stabenow — the chair of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee — has released the legislative text of Senate Democrats' farm bill proposal. There is, however, limited time on the congressional calendar to move this measure through the Senate and House of Representatives.

Boozman, of Rogers, is the Senate Agriculture Committee's top GOP member. He will become the committee's chair in January when Republicans take control of the Senate.