If lawmakers can't reach a deal to avoid a shutdown, many federal workers would be furloughed, while essential functions like Social Security payments would continue.

After learning the U.S. doesn't officially recognize the bald eagle as its national bird, a Minnesota man swooped in. This week the House passed his bill, which now heads to Biden's desk.

For the week ending Dec. 13, the senators worked on sending their support to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in their proposal to expand the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge boundaries, introducing legislation to improve local government's extreme weather planning, pushing to clear medical debt from credit reports, and delivering public safety resources.

For the week ending Dec. 6, the senators focused on requesting federal disaster assistance from congressional leaders post-Hurricane Helene, pressing U.S. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy under oath on the continuing mail delays in Georgia, and introducing legislation to rename the Plains, Ga., post office after Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter.

For the holiday week ending Nov. 29, the senators worked on introducing legislation to stop political discrimination in providing federal disaster assistance, providing infrastructure and security upgrades at the Port of Savannah, and announcing a conditional federal loan to help the Rivian electric vehicle plant restart construction.

After he's sworn in, Rep.-elect Tom Barrett of Michigan will work in the Capitol office his great-grandfather once used. Rep. Louis Rabaut died in 1961, two decades before Barrett was born.

For the week ending Nov. 22, the senators pushed: Congress to provide agricultural assistance to Georgia after the damage caused by Hurricane Helene, the state of Georgia to improve prison conditions following the Department of Justice's investigation of Georgia's prisons, and for more federal protections against human smuggling at the southern border.

South Carolina Rep. Nancy Mace says the resolution aims to protect women's rights. Democratic Rep.-elect Sarah McBride, the first out trans person elected to Congress, has slammed it as a distraction.

In recent weeks, Ossoff and Warnock have worked on questioning the BioLab Conyers CEO for answers on the plan to address safety concerns, introducing legislation to improve oversight in the foster care system, delivering funding to hire more school counselors in schools to support students' mental wellbeing, and provide clean energy upgrades to Georgia's ports.

Donald Trump will again take the White House, according to calls by the Associated Press in key states, and he appears to be on track to do so with full control of the political levers in Washington.

For the week ending Oct. 18, the senators worked on urging the Biden administration to help Georgia amid the national IV shortage after Hurricane Helene, improving federal oversight of manufacturing facilities storing hazardous chemicals after the BioLab plant fire in Conyers, requesting Congress cover the costs for Hurricane Helene cleanup and recovery, and passing legislation cracking down on contraband in U.S. federal prisons.

For the week ending Oct. 4, the senators continued to visit Georgia communities affected by Hurricane Helene and push Congress and federal government agencies to deliver support for those communities.

In the week ending Sept. 29, the senators visited communities affected by the hurricane, worked on requesting the Department of Justice look into the safety of prison staffers in federal prisons, proving infrastructure upgrades and job creation to Laurens County, honoring families of fallen service members, and improving services for violent crime victims.

The Republican congressman has been criticized for amplifying false claims about Haitian immigrants. "You never want to intentionally hurt someone’s feelings," he apologized in part on Thursday.

The Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released its new five-year strategic plan for the Office of Rural Health earlier this month.