"To ensure that we have ample time to enact our conservative agenda, I have increased the average number of days we will be in session by the equivalent of more than three legislative weeks," Kevin McCarthy said. House GOP planning to work more next year

House Republicans are planning to work more than three extra weeks in 2017, compared with the current year, as they push to enact Donald Trump’s agenda.

Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) announced the stepped-up workload on Wednesday morning as Republicans lay the groundwork to repeal Obamacare and overhaul the tax code in an effort to spur the economy.


The House will be in session for 145 days next year, an increase over the 132-day average during nonelection years for the past three GOP-led Congresses. It adds up to 13 more days of work in 2017, spread over several additional weeks.

“To ensure that we have ample time to enact our conservative agenda, I have increased the average number of days we will be in session by the equivalent of more than three legislative weeks,” McCarthy wrote in text accompanying the emailed schedule. “With an incoming Trump Administration, I have added these extra session days primarily during the first part of the year.”

The calendar includes a number of five-day workweeks in the first part of the year, a departure from the typical three- to four-day weeks enjoyed by lawmakers last year.

Lawmakers will be working in Washington up to 61 days of Trump’s first 100 days in the White House.