This Week on the Hill: 6 big fights Congress faces as it returns

Lawmakers are returning to Washington after a two-week recess to a packed and politically fraught agenda.

The weekend saw a growing wave of bipartisan calls for Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) to resign from Congress amid sexual assault allegations, which he has denied. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) said she would file a motion to expel Swalwell.

Swalwell suspended his campaign for California governor on Sunday, after House Democratic leaders and other members of Congress pressured him to do so.

Political fallout from the Iran conflict, deepening GOP divisions over a national security bill and a record-long partial government shutdown are also set to take center stage.

Democrats in both chambers are pushing for a vote on a resolution that would curb President Trump’s war powers in Iran without congressional approval. The renewed effort comes amid backlash over Trump’s stark warning that a “whole civilization will die” if Tehran didn’t strike a peace deal, and uncertainty about the strength of the ceasefire that followed.

Many members of the party are also calling for Trump’s removal from office through impeachment or the 25th Amendment, putting pressure on Democratic leaders who so far have avoided taking a stance on the matter. 

Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), meanwhile, is facing a rocky week as he contends with two bills that have divided Republicans.

Johnson is aiming to pass a bill reauthorizing Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), which allows the government to spy on foreigners located abroad without getting a warrant. Several conservatives have said they would oppose the measure, demanding reforms or to attach unrelated legislation, enough to tank the bill and force GOP leaders to either make concessions or rely on Democratic support to get it across the finish line.

And House Republicans over the recess vented frustration with GOP leaders’ plan to reopen the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as the partial government shutdown drags on.

Republicans are preparing a second reconciliation bill that would fund Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol. The Senate passed a separate bill to fund the remainder of DHS. But some House Republicans insist they want to see the reconciliation bill come together before they consider the Senate bill — or to fully fund DHS through reconciliation. 

Also on lawmakers’ to-do list is the continuing debate over the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE America) Act. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) is still facing pressure from conservatives to pass the bill, despite the strong Democratic opposition.

And former Attorney General Pam Bondi is fueling controversy on Capitol Hill, as Democrats on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee demand she sit for her scheduled deposition with the panel as part of their investigation into the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

What you can expect this week:

House to vote on FISA reauthorization: House GOP leaders are aiming to hold a vote on a “clean” extension of Section 702 of FISA, despite members of their conference being divided over the measure.

Reconciliation 2.0 talks begin amid DHS shutdown: The Senate Budget Committee will begin drafting a second reconciliation bill that will include funding for ICE and Border Patrol as part of a deal to end the partial shutdown.

Congress to address Iran fallout: The Senate will vote on an Iran war powers resolution this week, though the measure is not expected to pass.

GOP doubles down on SAVE America Act: Thune is facing pressure from conservatives to get the SAVE America Act across the finish line. The upper chamber is expected to resume its debate over the bill. 

Fight over Bondi appearance heats up: Democrats on the House Oversight Committee said they are ready to hold Bondi in contempt if she does not appear for a scheduled deposition to address the Epstein files.

GOP, Democrats launch into expulsion wars: As calls to expel Swalwell intensify, some lawmakers are also setting their sights on ousting three other members accused of wrongdoing: Reps. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas),........

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