Congressman Smith Capitol Report: 18 Days To Shutdown The Rolla Daily News Congress’ most basic responsibility is to ensure our homeland is secure and American families remain safe from those who wish to do us harm. But Washington Democrats are collectively sticking their heads in the sand and ignoring the coming budget crisis, which would jeopardize that security so many of us rely upon. The reality is, based on Nancy Pelosi’s schedule, the House of Representatives has only 18 legislative days left before the end of the fiscal year in September, when both Chambers of Congress and the President are to have signed into law the legislation needed to keep government functioning and performing those most basic requirements.