The 119^th Congress – The House Has Been Unproductive?

The House is nearing the end of what appears to be a historically unproductive year. With just 336 roll call votes taken, this year's total is the lowest in three decades, except for the 2020 session, which was impacted by the onset of Covid-19. By the end of November, the House had been in session for fewer hours than in the same period during the first year of either Biden's or Trump's presidencies. It increasingly seems that Speaker Johnson will close out the year with only one significant achievement; the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill in July. Since then, House Republicans have had little of note on their agenda. They not only took the usual August recess but also left town for nearly the entire 43-day government shutdown in the fall. Without a shared goal, the chamber has devolved into year-end squabbles and efforts to force votes over Speaker Johnson's head. House conservatives are hopeful for a 2026 renaissance, with many publicly predicting a second reconciliation bill to push through more Republican priorities before the midterm elections. However, historical trends suggest that Congress typically votes less, not more, during election years, which does not bode well for an ambitious 2026 House agenda. Additionally, President Trump's comments dismissing the idea of another 2026 reconciliation bill cast further doubt on these plans.