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Senators are bracing for their debate over President BidenJoe BidenBiden restates commitment to 'one China' policy on Taiwan in call with Xi Biden raises human rights with China's Xi during four hour meeting Biden, Xi hold 'candid' discussion amid high tensions MOREs climate and social spending bill to keep them in Washington until, and potentially into, the holidays.

The timeline for the legislation has repeatedly slipped, but Democrats say they want to get it done this year even if that means working into Christmas or beyond, when Congress typically tries to take a weeks-long break.

House Democrats are hoping to pass the bill this week, with the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) planning to release an analysis by the end of the day Friday. But even if the House sends the bill across the Capitol, it could still be weeks before it comes up in the Senate.

Its going to be intense, said Sen. Tim KaineTimothy (Tim) Michael KaineCongress barrels toward end-of-year pileup Senators urging federal investigation into Liberty University's handling of sexual assault claims Biden faces high stakes with progressives on Fed pick MORE (D-Va.). Im hoping we have off between Christmas and New Years, but Im expecting we will run it up until pretty close to Christmas.

Sen. Jon TesterJonathan (Jon) TesterManchin says he has 'no idea' if he'll run for reelection in 2024 Spending bill faces Senate scramble The good, bad, and uglyof Tester'sBlackfoot-Clearwater Stewardship Act MORE (D-Mont.), asked when he thought Congress would be wrapped for the year, guessed: New Years Eve.

Do you have plans for Christmas? You can spend it at my house because my plans are screwed up too, Tester said, adding that he envisioned Congress finishing its work very late in December.

The threat of a Christmas pileup is a step back from Majority Leader Charles SchumerChuck SchumerChristie: Trump rhetoric about stolen election led to Jan. 6 attack Senate Republicans call on colleagues to reject government spending bills without border wall funding Schumer presses Biden to tap oil reserves to lower gas prices MOREs (D-N.Y.) initial hope that the Senate could bring the measure up this week and pass it before leaving for a weeks-long Thanksgiving recess. If the Senate makes changes, which appears likely, the House will have to pass the bill a second time before it goes to Bidens desk.

But now the bill is not expected to come to the Senate floor until at least after Thanksgiving, where it faces competition on a crowded schedule.

The Senate will start debate on a sweeping defense policy bill this week, but senators dont expect to finish it before the recess. Though the National Defense Authorization Act is largely bipartisan, it eats up roughly two weeks of Senate floor time.

Instead, senators could return on Monday, Nov. 29, needing to finish the defense bill and move quickly to avert a government shutdown with funding running out starting Saturday, Dec. 4, two deadlines that would only further delay Bidens spending package.

Lawmakers havent said how long of a stopgap funding bill, known as a continuing resolution (CR), they will try to pass by early next month. But they are looking at the option of a weeks-long CR to try to buy more time for a year-end government funding deal.

What I understand is were going to be operating on a continuing resolution until maybe the week before Christmas, said Sen. John CornynJohn CornynDemocrats face steep climb in Texas as O'Rourke mounts governor bid Senate GOP worries Trump could derail bid for majority Republican Senators request military aid for Taiwan amid pressure from China MORE (R-Texas), an adviser to Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellLeahy retirement shakes up Vermont politics Trump dismisses report McConnell tried to disinvite him from Biden inauguration McConnell tried to disinvite Trump from Biden inaugural, book claims MORE (Ky.), adding that one option was a CR through Dec. 17.

That would set up another funding deadline closer to Christmas.

This is creating quite a traffic jam, Cornyn added.

Schumer, in a letter to his caucus sent Sunday, didnt put a hard timeline on when the Senate will take up the Build Back Better Act (BBBA), though he said at the White House on Monday that they would try to pass the rest of Bidens spending plan in a few weeks.

Timing of consideration of the BBBA in the Senate will largely depend on when the House sends us the bill and when CBO finalizes their scores for all of the committees, which are needed to complete the Byrd Bath process, Schumer wrote in the Sunday letter, referring to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.

The Senate could need roughly a week to get the bill ready for the floor, based on estimates from Democrats.

Democratic senators are hoping to finish conversations with the parliamentarian this week on if the spending bill complies with a budget resolution that they approved earlier this year, which laid the way for it and included general top-lines. Theyre also expected to start conversations with the parliamentarian this week about if it complies with the Byrd rule, which lays out the budget process they are using on the social spending bill.

And to get the spending bill through the Senate given unified GOP opposition, theyll need total unity from all 50 Democrats, something they dont have yet.

Senate Democrats are still negotiating on a myriad of provisions including climate change measures, paid leave and tax reform. And Sen. Joe ManchinJoe ManchinBiden signs trillion infrastructure bill into law The Hill's 12:30 Report - Presented by Facebook - Trump officials face legal consequences over defying subpoenas The Hill's Morning Report - Presented by ExxonMobil - Will Biden's big bill pass the House this week? MORE (D-W.Va.), a key swing vote, raised new concerns about inflation after data last week showed that it hit a 30-year high.

Manchin, who has previously called for a strategic pause, didnt rule out, or in, that the spending bill could be ready to pass this month.

Im not in charge of the calendar, he said.

Manchin added to another gaggle of reporters, Lets wait and see what inflation does.

Schumer warned his caucus of the impending end-of-year pileup, telling senators to please keep your schedule flexible for the remainder of the calendar year.

I am confident we can get each of these important items done this year, but it will likely take some long nights and weekends, he said.

Schumers warning appeared to be sinking in with senators.

Sen. Jerry MoranGerald (Jerry) MoranSenators seek to permanently expand telehealth eligibility Senate GOP signals they'll help bail out Biden's Fed chair Star gymnasts call on Congress to dissolve US Olympics board MORE (R-Kan.) was overheard whistling as he left the Capitol after a vote on Monday night. Asked by The Hill if he was whistling a Christmas carol, Moran confirmed that it was Ill Be Home for Christmas but warned that the next line in the song is if only in my dreams.

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Democrats face squeeze on Biden's spending bill | TheHill - The Hill