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Congress reconvened this week to address a comprehensive agenda, including fiscal year 2026 appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security and additional funding allocations for immigration enforcement and defense. Republican leadership is preparing to advance President Trump’s request through a partisan expedited process, aiming to bypass a Democratic filibuster. This initiative faces a challenging timeline, as President Trump has set a deadline of June 1, and House Republicans remain divided on the approach.

Appropriations related to Homeland Security may be consolidated into one reconciliation bill, potentially followed by a separate package to address other Republican priorities such as Defense Department funding and state voting reforms.

The House considered votes on five measures, including three bills amending the Clean Air Act: the FENCES Act (H.R. 6409), which seeks to clarify emissions standards for sources outside the United States; the FIRE Act (H.R. 6387), permitting states to petition the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to exclude air quality monitoring data impacted by wildfire mitigation activities from regulatory decisions; and the RED Tape Act (H.R. 6398), designed to streamline EPA’s review procedures under the statute. Additionally, a resolution (H. Res. 1156) was introduced in support of tax policies benefiting working families.

Beyond the FISA section 702 bill (H.R. 8025), the chamber reviewed the Emergency Conservation Program Improvement Act (H.R. 1011), intended to expedite agricultural producers’ access to federal disaster relief funds; the ALERT Act (H.R. 7613), an aviation safety bill prompted by a recent helicopter and plane collision at the D.C. airport; and 14 bills proposing the renaming of U.S. post offices. The chamber also debated an Iran War Powers resolution, while a discharge petition led by Representative Aryanna Pressley (D-MA) could prompt a vote on H.R. 1689, requiring the administration to extend temporary protected status to Haitian immigrants for three years.

The Senate resumed deliberations on the SAVE America Act (S. 3752) and held votes concerning the Iran War Powers resolution and confirmation of nominees from the Trump administration.

Last week, Georgia Republican Clay Fuller secured victory in a special election to fill the House seat vacated by former Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene (R), who resigned in early January. Upon Fuller’s swearing in, the House will comprise 218 Republicans and 213 Democrats, granting the Republicans a two-vote majority.