u.s. congress hurtle toward major deadlines tax legislation budget policies deadlines hard soft end 2017 approach capitol hill outlook promise turbulent weeks monday nov. 27 president donald trump discuss tax overhaul lunch senate finance committee chairman orrin hatch republican-controlled chamber top tax writer four republican members hatch panel john cornyn rob portman pat toomey tim scott senate reconvene week-long holiday break tuesday nov 28 trump join senate republicans weekly policy luncheon urge quick passage tax legislation trump also meet republican democratic leaders senate house representatives talk fund legislation priorities senate budget committee hold hear whether republican tax legislation meet senate rule fast-track reconciliation bill bill could introduce senate floor late tuesday begin debate thursday nov. 30 friday dec. possible although far certain final senate vote tax bill friday dec. expiration date fund need keep u.s. government open congress three choices approve massive bill trillion keep government operate sept. 30 2018 pass short extension current fund buy time fail pass anything risk partial government shutdown stall tax effort u.s. treasury hit limit borrow take step postpone need action congress eliminate need debt limit increase end-of-year catch-all bill tuesday dec. 12 special u.s. senate election alabama pit republican roy moore conservative firebrand accuse sexual misconduct involve teen-age girls democrat doug jones election could mean trouble tax overhaul effort moore critic senate republican leader mitch mcconnell could cause turmoil elect win jones would shrink even republicans narrow margin senate control stand 52-48. thursday dec. 14 house last schedule session 2017. friday dec. 15 senate last schedule session 2017. friday dec. 22 last weekday christmas potential deadline send tax legislation trump disaster aid nov. 17 white house ask congress approve 45 billion aid disaster-hit puerto rico virgin islands texas florida state approve expect aid would total nearly 96 billion additional request expect dreamers trump threaten end obama-era program help dreamers people bring illegally unite state children trump give congress early march come replacement program democrats republicans want december chip children health insurance program help millions lower-income pregnant women children run money congress struggle approve five-year renewal program normally enjoy bipartisan support factbox tax budget 's u.s. congress to-do list