House plans to start August recess early

The House is on track to start its monthlong August recess a day early, after it passes a three-month extension of transportation programs.

Adjourning early will further allow the House to preempt the Senate on highway funding so that the upper chamber has no other option.

Senators are still plowing through a long-term extension of the Highway Trust Fund that authorizes six years’ worth of policy but only provides funding for three years. The Senate is unlikely to pass the legislation before Wednesday at the earliest.

{mosads}By leaving town a day early on Wednesday afternoon, the House will leave the Senate with two choices: The five-month patch the House passed earlier this month, or the three-month extension expected to hit the House floor on Wednesday. The three-month extension, which would last through Oct. 29, appears more likely to go forward.

But beyond strategy for maintaining transportation projects, lawmakers are eager to return to their districts for the five-week recess. A rumor spread among lawmakers earlier this month that the House would cancel the entire last week of session for July.

House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) dismissed the rumor of eliminating the entire week, suggesting it was “just wishful thinking of the members.”

House GOP leaders also canceled last Friday’s session, citing the delegation of Democrats traveling with President Obama to Africa over the weekend.

After leaving on Wednesday, lawmakers won’t be back in Washington until the Tuesday after Labor Day.