Both chambers are back to work this week, with the House set to consider a series of measures spanning financial services and small business regulation, law enforcement and criminal justice, and foreign affairs, alongside two measures of particular note: the Military Construction–VA appropriations bill (H.R. 8469), the first fiscal year 2027 appropriations bill to reach the floor, and the Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act of 2025 (H.R. 1346), the long-stalled measure to allow year-round sales of E15 gasoline. The Senate, meanwhile, is preparing the immigration enforcement reconciliation bill. Concurrently, the FY27 appropriations process remains in full swing, with committees continuing to examine the President’s proposed budget.

The Rules Committee will meet today to formulate a rule for the Military Construction–VA spending bill (H.R. 8469), which the House Appropriations Committee unanimously advanced 58-0 in late April. While Democrats voiced some remaining grievances by the end of the markup, the legislation drew bipartisan praise for fully funding veterans’ medical care. Overall, the bill would provide $157 billion in discretionary funding for fiscal 2027.

Over in the Senate, Democrats are preparing a procedural challenge to a $1 billion provision in the GOP reconciliation measure that is connected to plans for a new White House ballroom. Democrats say the addition is a “glaring” violation of the Senate’s Byrd rule, which restricts the type of material that can be considered in a filibuster-proof reconciliation bill. The $72 billion reconciliation package is designed to provide more than three years of funding for immigration enforcement at the Department of Homeland Security, with funding levels lasting beyond President Donald Trump’s term.

Members may also see floor action this week on a bill that would waive EPA requirements to allow for year-round sales of E15 gasoline, which is blended with 10 to 15 percent ethanol. The measure had been expected to be taken up on the floor prior to the recess and attached to the farm bill if both passed. But Republicans were split on the biofuels issue, and only the farm bill (H.R. 7567) was ultimately considered and passed in the House.

Committee Hearings of Interest This Week:

House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy will hold a hearing on “Wires, Rates, and States: Permitting Transmission for Reliable and Affordable Power”
Wednesday at 10:15 AM (details here)

House Committee on Education and Workforce will hold a hearing on "Examining the Policies and Priorities of the Department of Education”
Thursday at 10:15 AM (details here)