-The Senate will vote today on a “clean” CR that will fund the government through 11 December. A clean CR suggests no special exceptions to a continuation of funding at FY15 levels, to include no new starts. See the requested “anomalies” here. While they are not expected to survive in CR language, the anomalies suggest DoD’s position on major programs about which leadership is most concerned.-With the surprise resignation of Speaker Boehner last week, the House is expected to similarly vote to approve a clean CR and avoid the much-hyped government shutdown.-It is widely anticipated that current House Majority Leader, Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), will be elected as Speaker. A date for a vote has not been set. The Republican conference will meet this week at the request of “The Freedom Caucus”, a group of about 30 conservative Republicans, to discuss the fallout of Speaker Boehner’s resignation. The Freedom Caucus had previously said they would not agree to any funding bill that included funding for Planned Parenthood. It appears they will relax that demand in the interim to allow the short-term CR to pass.- The “to do” list between now and 11 December is significant:- pass appropriations bills for FY16. The root issue is whether budget cap (sequester) relief will be provided for both defense and non-defense spending.

– complete the FY 16 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) defense policy bill

– complete a highway bill to authorize emergency improvements to infrastructure

-address the approaching federal debt ceiling limit

-address Export-Import Bank funding
– General Electric raised the stakes in the Export-Import Bank funding debate by announcing the movement of 500 U.S. jobs to France was directly related to the loss of Ex-Im funding.

– Speaking last week at Georgetown University, Director of National Intelligence, James Clapper, acknowledged that “we don’t know what was actually exfiltrated” from the OPM data breach.

-General Joseph Dunford, USMC, assumed responsibilities as the 19th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS) on 25 September.

-General Robert Neller, USMC, assumed responsibilities as Commandant of the Marine Corps on 25 September.

– Admiral John Richardson, USN, assumed responsibilities as Chief of Naval Operations on 18 September.