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This Week in Congress!

Congress returned to session this week to reopen the government. This past weekend, Senate Majority Leader Thune (R-SD) kept the chamber in session and by Sunday, the Senate voted in favor of a motion to reconsider the House-passed CR. This vote permitted leadership to bring that measure to the floor with some amendments including:

  • adding a minibus package of three FY26 appropriations bills (Agriculture, Legislative Branch, and Military Construction-Veterans Affairs, drafts of which were released that afternoon);
  • continue funding other agencies at FY25 levels through January 30;
  • funding back-pay for government workers furloughed or forced to continue working during the shutdown;
  • resuming federal payments to states and localities;
  • funding SNAP for a full year; and
  • reversing the layoffs of federal government workers that have happened since the government shut down on October 1.

Separately, Senate Republicans promised a vote on the expiring Affordable Care Act (ACA) enhanced tax credits by December 2. Eight Democrats voted in favor of the motion, and one Republican voted against it; all of those Democrats are either retiring or not up for reelection next year. They included Shaheen and Hassan of New Hampshire; Cortez Masto and Rosen of Nevada; Fetterman of Pennsylvania; Kaine of Virginia; Durbin of Illinois; and independent King of Maine. Rand Paul of Kentucky was the sole Republican in opposition.

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