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House Republican leaders are continuing discussions around a potential “reconciliation 3.0” package, exploring a mix of policy priorities that could be advanced later this year. Budget Committee Chairman Arrington (R-TX) has indicated the package could include defense funding, efforts to reduce fraud in federal spending programs, and measures aimed at improving housing and healthcare affordability.…

Congress is continuing work on FY 2027 appropriations, with the House Appropriations Committee having reported out seven of its 12 spending bills so far. The House has also passed one of those measures, marking early progress in the annual funding process. In the Senate, appropriators are expected to begin marking up their own spending bills…

Congress was in session this week and both chambers will be out next week for the Memorial Day recess.  The House considered sixteen bills under suspension of the rules, which require a two-thirds majority for passage including: The House also considered the following bills:  Finally, Rep. Meeks (D-NY) advanced a vote on his Iran War…

This week, six states held primaries—Alabama, Georgia, Idaho, Kentucky, Oregon, and Pennsylvania—as political and redistricting battles take center stage across the country. Lawmakers and election officials are navigating a mix of electoral strategy, voting system changes, and court challenges that could reshape representation in multiple states. These developments highlight the intersection of redistricting, electoral administration,…

The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee unveiled a five-year, $580 billion surface transportation reauthorization bill, which was debated this week. The legislation would provide state highway departments, public transit agencies, and motor vehicle safety programs with steady annual funding increases above the $80 billion allocated this year under the previous major reauthorization law. To help…

 President Trump has said he wants the next budget reconciliation package on his desk by June 1.  If Congress wants to meet that deadline and take its scheduled recess, it must pass the bill this week. Last week, the Parliamentarian and Senate staff began the “Byrd Bath” review of the two Senate bills that will…

House Speaker Johnson (R-LA) says that Republicans can pass a third reconciliation bill that will address voters’ affordability concerns and other Republican priorities by the end of July. Others in the party are skeptical. Rank and file members have lots of different, and sometimes competing, priorities, making it difficult to put together a package that could…

Last week, the House passed its first FY 2027 appropriations bill by a wide margin.  That bill, funding military construction and the Veterans Administration, is typically the least controversial of all 12 bills.  And this year it is one of the few that would increase spending rather than force cuts.  So far, it was the…

Last week Reps. Meeks (D-NY) and Fitzpatrick (R-PA) secured the required 218 signatures on a discharge petition that will force a House floor vote on a bill (H.R. 6856) to impose sanctions on Russia if it refuses to negotiate and abide by a peace agreement with Ukraine.   That is the sixth time this Congress that…

Last week, the Senate voted for the seventh time to block an Iran War Powers resolution.  This one was defeated by a vote of 49-50, but it got more Republican support than prior measures:  Sens. Murkowski (R-AK), Collins (R-ME), and Paul (R-KY) voted for it.  Sen. Fetterman (D-PA) was the only Democrat to vote against…