Senate Releases 2012 Schedule, Hewing More Closely to House
Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) released the 2012 legislative calendar for the Senate today, and it will track more closely to the House schedule than it did this year.
Although the Senate will come into session a week later than the House, on Jan. 23, most of the recesses scheduled for next year appear to line up fairly closely. Both chambers will be out of session for the Presidents Day holiday, from Feb. 20 – 24, for Passover and Easter, from April 2 – 13, and for July Fourth, from July 2-6. The extended summer break lines up as well, from Aug. 6 to Sept. 7, to accommodate the national nominating conventions.
Unlike the House schedule, though, Durbin has not yet scheduled beyond the beginning of September, listing the last several months of the year as “To Be Determined.” Additionally, the Senate will be in session through a number of the House’s recesses, particularly in March. That is because House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (Va.) has sought to provide his Members with a week in their districts for every two weeks in Washington.
Dates of note for Senate schedule:
Convene: Jan. 23, 2012
Feb. 20 - 24 State work period (Presidents Day, Feb. 20)
March 5: No vote (Monday)
March 12: No vote (Monday)
March 19: No vote (Monday)
April 2 - 13: State work period (Passover, April 6-7; Good Friday, April 6; Easter, April 8)
April 30 - May 4: State work period
May 28 - June 1: State work period (Memorial Day, May 28)
July 2 - 6: State work period (Independence Day, July 4)
Aug. 6 - Sept. 7: State work period (Labor Day, Sept. 3)
Target adjournment: TBD
