[jjk166]

> If he fails to sign or veto it then in about two weeks, it will automatically become law anyway.

This is inaccurate. If the president fails to sign a bill within 10 days (not including sundays) while congress is not in session then the bill does not become law. This is known as a pocket veto. Congress is out of session the next 2 weeks, so Trump does need to sign the bill for it to become law.

[amalcon]

Congress has remained in technical session (by having one member open and close the House each day) constantly for decades. Actually ending the session would be a rather significant departure, and I've heard of no plans to do so.

[jjk166]

That has nothing to do with pocket vetoes. A pro-forma session blocks recess appointments. It also doesn't occur each day, congress can adjourn for up to 3 days without recess.

Pocket vetoes have occurred during mid session breaks (known as intrasession pocket vetoes). In recent years appellate courts have ruled that congress can appoint an agent to receive bills when not in session which would thus make pocket vetoes impossible. This has not been put to the test. Given the current republican supermajority on the supreme court, if a president were ever to assert that agents are invalid it would be now.

[amalcon]

I am not interested in being dragged into an argument about this, and of course the supreme court can try to calvinball whatever they want. That being said, your interpretation is at a minimum disputed by one of the largest law firms in the country (https://www.thompsoncoburn.com/insights/pro-forma-session-10...).