‘Historic’ Northeast blizzard brings House to a halt

The House has canceled votes for Monday evening due to the snowstorm that is set to slam the Northeast.

Originally, the House was to consider six bills to combat human trafficking, but with the National Weather Service issuing blizzard warnings from coastal New Jersey to Maine, lawmakers were having trouble making it back to Washington.

Republicans are also delaying a vote on a controversial border security bill that had been scheduled for Wednesday. The bill, which is no longer on this week’s schedule, would require the Department of Homeland Security to prevent all illegal crossings into the United States within five years.

{mosads}A House GOP leadership aide said new timing for a vote on the border security bill has not yet been determined. Leadership had intended to gauge support for the measure among the rank and file on the floor on Monday night, as well as in the weekly conference meeting Tuesday morning.

That schedule may be difficult to keep because the snowstorm has the potential to disrupt air travel for days.

New York City is forecast to get 18 to 24 inches of snowfall in what Mayor Bill de Blasio (D) warned “could be one of the top two or three largest storms in the history of this city.” He has announced a citywide ban on driving beginning at 11 p.m.

In areas around Boston, the storm is projected to dump almost 3 feet of snow.

The worst of the storm is expected to arrive Monday night into Tuesday morning, with snow falling at a rate of 2 to 4 inches per hour. 

Airlines have already canceled more than 5,000 flights in anticipation of the blizzard, with more travel delays likely in the days ahead.

Washington is forecast to avoid the worst of the storm, with just 1 to 3 inches of snow forecast for the area.

But with Monday a traditional travel day for lawmakers returning to Washington, the storm has thrown a wrench into the House session that was already truncated to accommodate the House Democratic retreat on Thursday and Friday.

For now, the House is slated to vote on the remaining human trafficking bills on Tuesday and begin consideration of a measure to expedite exports of liquefied natural gas.

Regardless of whether they make it to Washington, lawmakers from the Northeast are likely to be in close contact with officials in their states and districts as the storm unfolds.

Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker (R) has declared a state of emergency and issued a ban on nonessential driving starting at midnight.

“We are anticipating an historic top-five snowstorm,” Baker said. “Whiteout conditions and treacherous roads will make driving anywhere extremely dangerous starting around midnight tonight and extending through most of Tuesday.”

Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy (D) likewise issued a driving ban, beginning at 9 p.m.

In New Jersey, Gov. Chris Christie (R) declared a state of emergency but stopped short of issuing a mandatory travel ban, instead requesting that drivers stay off the roads. 

“We’re going to be challenged, but we feel like we’re prepared, we’re ready,” he said.