118th Congress in Session; LawmakersNegotiated $1.66 trillion deal to avert aGovernment Shutdown

High-stakes talks over government funding and bordersecurity are set to collide when Congress returns tosession this week, presenting lawmakers with twopolitically prickly matters that carry seriousimplications.

Congressional leaders announced a deal on top-linespending numbers Sunday afternoon, lowering thechances of a government shutdown as the first of twofunding deadlines fast approaches. A number ofhurdles, however, remain-including the threat bysome House conservatives to shut down thegovernment unless they receive substantive border

security policy.

That posture comes as Senate negotiators are inchingcloser to a long-awaited deal on border security. Sen.James Lankford (R-Okla.), the top GOP negotiator, saidtext could be released as soon as this week.

Also this week, the House Homeland SecurityCommittee is scheduled to hold its first impeachmenthearing for Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, acceleratingthe panel's effort against the embattled departmenthead as the GOP conference sounds the alarm aboutthe situation at the southern border.

And the House Oversight Committee and HouseJudiciary Committee are slated to mark up aresolution to hold Hunter Biden in contempt ofCongress after the president's son defied acongressional subpoena and did not appear at ascheduled deposition with the panel.