Senate to take up budget agreement on Tuesday

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) on Friday said the Senate would consider the budget deal Tuesday, just days before the chamber is expected to adjourn for the year.

Speaking on the Senate floor, Reid said the Senate would consider the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) on Wednesday. The House passed both bills on Thursday before leaving town.

{mosads}Reid set the schedule as he announced a procedural agreement with Senate Republicans to avoid a late Saturday night vote on an Obama administration nomination. Instead, that vote will be held on Monday.

Senate Republicans have been keeping the Senate open around the clock for the past two days, forcing Democrats to burn off all debate time before approving Obama administration nominees. The move is being made in protest against the Democratic vote to end the filibuster on nominations.

Earlier Friday, Reid said he would look to ensure no late weekend work in order to spare the staff from keeping the Senate open.

“The Republican leader and I have spent some time together, and I think we’ve had a productive discussion on the schedule,” Reid said on the floor. “This schedule has been extremely difficult for everyone.”

Under the new agreement, the Senate will vote around noon Friday on the nomination of Heather Higginbottom to be deputy secretary of State for management and resources. Then, the Senate will vote to end debate on the nomination of Anne Patterson to be assistant secretary of state for near eastern affairs — under the new Senate rules, that will only require a simple majority vote.

If debate is ended on Patterson, the Senate will hold off voting on her confirmation until Monday at 5:30 p.m.

Also Monday, the Senate would immediately vote to end debate on the nomination of Jeh Johnson to be secretary of Homeland Security. Without the process agreement in place, Johnson’s final confirmation vote would have happened late Saturday.

Reid added that late next week, the Senate should try to get to the nomination of Janet Yellen to head the Federal Reserve.

While there are no longer any weekend votes, Reid said the Senate would reconvene on Sunday at 1 p.m. for debate only. In the Sunday session, Reid is expected to file a motion to end debate on the House-passed budget deal, and the House-passed NDAA.