The GOP-led House of Representatives is gearing up for a busy first week of the 2024 legislative session, with several major priorities scheduled for action. The week of January 8 will see significant developments in two separate impeachment probes as well as the highly anticipated testimony of infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci.

Dr. Fauci's first appearance before the House select committee on COVID-19 will kick off on Monday. The closed-door interview will span two days, with the renowned expert fielding questions from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle for a total of seven hours each day.

Meanwhile, on January 10, the House Oversight Committee and the Homeland Security Committee will take significant steps in the GOP's push for accountability in the Biden administration. Oversight Chairman James Comer, a Republican from Kentucky, announced that his panel would hold a procedural meeting to advance a contempt resolution against Hunter Biden, the son of President Biden. The resolution stems from Hunter Biden's failure to comply with a congressional subpoena, which had been issued as part of an impeachment inquiry looking into potential profiting off foreign business deals by the president and his family.

Hunter Biden's decision to skip the deposition and instead hold a press conference in front of the U.S. Capitol criticizing the GOP's impeachment inquiry has further intensified the clash between Republicans and Democrats on the issue. Comer emphasized that Hunter Biden's refusal to cooperate constitutes contempt of Congress and should be referred to the appropriate United States Attorney's Office for prosecution.

However, Rep. Jamie Raskin, the top Democrat on the committee, voiced his criticism of Comer's decision, noting that Hunter Biden had offered to testify in a public hearing. Raskin argued that the Republicans' insistence on a closed-door deposition first hindered the investigation and denied the opportunity for Hunter Biden to address the committee's questions in front of the American people and the world.

In addition, on the same day, the Homeland Security Committee will hold its first hearing in the GOP's impeachment process of Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. The House had previously voted in November to refer a resolution for Mayorkas' impeachment to the committee, effectively giving them the responsibility to pursue the GOP's efforts to remove the Biden official from office.

Committee Chair Mark Green, a Republican from Tennessee, emphasized that their investigation had revealed Secretary Mayorkas' decision-making and refusal to enforce laws passed by Congress as the foundation of the ongoing crisis. Green stated that accountability was needed due to Mayorkas' alleged failure to fulfill his oath of office.

Once the high-profile actions of the week are concluded, lawmakers will face another pressing deadline - reaching a deal on government funding by January 19 to avoid a partial government shutdown. As the clock ticks, negotiations will play a crucial role in determining whether a shutdown will be averted or if further challenges await Capitol Hill.

It remains to be seen how these impeachment probes and hearings will unfold and shape the political landscape in the early days of the 2024 legislative session. As both parties continue to stake their claims and tensions run high, legislative progress and the looming threat of a government shutdown hang in the balance.