Both the House and Senate are back to work this week facing a tight deadline. Between now and the November 3 midterm elections, the House has roughly 28 voting days remaining. Adding to the pressure, current government funding expires September 30, one day before the House's final scheduled votes, with no clear path to funding in sight. 

Conservatives Hold Out to SAVE America: 

The House recessed early for the Fourth of July two weeks ago after a stalemate between leadership and hardline conservatives over the controversial voter ID bill, the SAVE America Act (S. 1383). The holdouts went so far as to block the FY 2027 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA, H.R. 8800), a must-pass bill that has cleared Congress for 64 consecutive years. Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) does not appear ready to bring the NDAA back up and is instead expected to move the FY 2027 National Security and State spending bill (H.R. 8595) alongside a major veterans package (H.R. 9237). Over the weekend, the Speaker said he was seeking an "irresistible" solution to win over his colleagues, and he plans to attach a bill making daylight saving time permanent (H.R. 139) to the spending package. 

In the Senate, the President has renewed his call to eliminate the filibuster, which allows unlimited debate unless 60 senators vote to end it. Support remains short both to end the filibuster and to pass the voter ID bill. The Senate will instead begin debating its own NDAA (S. 4784), which typically enjoys broad bipartisan support but faces Democrat opposition this year over the reignited war with Iran. 

Reconciliation 3.0:  

House Republicans continue to plot a third budget reconciliation bill, though its chances grow more remote each week, and Senator Lindsey Graham's (R-SC) death further endangers movement in the Senate. The President and defense hawks want the bill to carry up to $350 billion in defense spending, but House conservatives are wary of a major spending package without offsetting cuts. Some hope it could serve as a vehicle for voter ID provisions that would satisfy advocates.

On the House Floor this Week:  

The House floor schedule this week includes legislation under suspension of the rules, pertaining mostly to Homeland Security, including a cold-weather terrorism emergency preparedness bill (H.R. 3106).  They will also consider three campaign and election financial transparency bills out of the House Administration Committee. Later in the week, the House will work through a series of veterans’ affairs and financial services bills, also under suspension of the rules. 

There are no committee hearings of interest this week.