Week Ahead in Washington: December 14

WASHINGTON (Gray DC) - Congress is wrapping up its legislative business for the year with healthcare at the top of the agenda.

Enhanced Affordable Care Act tax credits are set to expire at end of 2025, and Congress lacks a clear solution. Last Thursday, the Senate voted on two packages, but both the GOP and Democratic-led proposals failed to get the 60 votes needed to break a potential filibuster.

This week, the House is set to vote on a Republican-led plan lowering healthcare costs. The bill currently does not extend the subsidies, but House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has promised a chance to vote on an amendment that would do so.

Former Special Counsel Jack Smith will testify in front of the House Judiciary Committee Wednesday. Smith investigated Trump during his 2024 campaign for his involvement in the January 6 attack on the Capitol and for potentially mishandling classified documents.

Smith initially asked to testify publicly, but the committee decided to hold the hearing in private.

Friday is the deadline for the U.S. Department of Justice to release records related to Jeffrey Epstein, as laid out in the law Trump signed Nov. 19.

The holiday season continues in Washington with the lighting of the National Menorah on the Ellipse near the White House Sunday at sunset for the first night of Hanukkah.