NDFC - This Week in Congress
NOTE: Congress is not in session next week due to the Memorial Day Recess. I wish you all a happy, healthy, and safe holiday weekend, the unofficial start to summer 2026! Our update will return the week of June 1st.
This Week in Congress
May 22, 2026
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:
• 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act (H.R. 6644): The latest version of the bill, which had previous iterations pass the House in February and the Senate in March.
• Financial Services bills:
o Keeping Deposits Local Act (H.R. 3234) – increases the amount of reciprocal deposits a bank can hold without triggering additional regulatory scrutiny.
o American Access to Banking Act (H.R. 4544) – requires federal banking regulators to assist new banks or credit unions in applying for a charter.
o Community Bank Deposit Access Act (H.R. 5317) – allows qualified community banks to accept certain custodial deposits without triggering brokered deposit restrictions.
• Ways and Means bills:
o H.R. 6506 – extends deadlines for taxpayers to file refund claims and bars the IRS from using refunds to offset other liabilities.
o H.R. 7432 – provides additional federal housing assistance to young adults aging out of foster care.
• Veterans Affairs bills: Five measures related to health care and education benefits (H.R. 785, S. 2393, H.R. 3482, H.R. 3726, H.R. 2954).
• Natural Resources bills: Three bills concerning federal lands (H.R. 2252, H.R. 1352, H.R. 4684).
• Other bills: Authorization for a September 11 commemorative coin (H.R. 1993) and an increase in the retirement age for Capitol Police members (H.R. 4530).
The House also considered the following bills:
• SCORE Act (H.R. 4312) – governs student-athlete compensation and provides the NCAA with a limited antitrust exemption. The bill has been amended to address objections raised last year.
• Stopping Indoctrination and Protecting Kids Act (H.R. 2616) – originally scheduled for late April.
• Two veterans-related bills: one expanding disability benefits (H.R. 6047) and another limiting certain veterans’ listings in the federal firearm background check system (H.R. 1041).
• H.R. 1329 – authorizes the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum to be located on the National Mall.
Finally, Rep. Meeks (D-NY) advanced a vote on his Iran War Powers resolution (H. Con. Res. 86). If the Senate passes the second reconciliation bill this week, House leadership plans to bring it to the floor before the chamber recesses.
The Senate continued confirming Trump administration nominees. Republican Leadership attempted passage of the second reconciliation bill later in the week.
Redistricting Battles and Primaries This Week
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.
• Louisiana - Republican senators in Louisiana advanced a plan to eliminate one of the state’s two majority-Black, Democratic-held congressional seats. The proposed map would pit U.S. Rep. Troy Carter against U.S. Rep. Cleo Fields, whose current districts are separate. Lawmakers chose not to pursue a more aggressive approach that could have targeted both Democratic seats.
• Georgia - Governor Brian Kemp (R-GA) called lawmakers back to the state capital next month to redraw legislative districts for the 2028 election cycle and to make changes to the state’s voting system. Republican leaders cited the need to act in case they lose control of the governor’s office or the legislature in November. Voting experts have warned that a new law, effective July 1, will require abandoning the current vote-counting system, potentially creating complications for the general election.
• South Carolina - Governor Henry McMaster (R-SC) is expected to announce a special session on redistricting. If a new map is approved, Democratic Rep. Jim Clyburn could lose his seat in this year’s midterms. The move comes after pressure from former President Donald Trump and follows earlier opposition from five Republican state senators who had joined Democrats to block redistricting without a gubernatorial call.
These developments highlight the intersection of redistricting, electoral administration, and political strategy. With primaries underway, the outcomes in these states may influence broader national dynamics, particularly in the context of party control and representation.
Northeast Dairy Farmers Face Rising Costs and Uncertain Markets
In my recent meetings with congressional staff, I highlighted the significant pressures that dairy farmers in the Northeast are experiencing, which threaten both operations and profitability. From soaring energy prices to unpredictable trade and weather conditions, the region’s dairy sector faces mounting challenges.
• Energy Costs Increased - Fuel prices, including diesel and heating oil, have risen sharply over the past year. This directly increased costs for running tractors, milking equipment, and milk storage systems.
• Feed and Fertilizer Challenges - Fertilizer shortages and inflated prices created major hurdles for farmers. Corn, hay, and pasture growth—the backbone of dairy feed—became more expensive and harder to source.
• Trade and Export Pressures - Global trade tensions, including tariffs and import restrictions, disrupted the export market for milk and cheese. Northeast dairy farmers who relied on international buyers faced volatile prices and tighter profit margins.
• Weather Pressures - Drought and unusual weather patterns further affected feed quality and pasture yields.
• Regional Impacts
• In Pennsylvania and New York, farmers reported diesel costs that had increased by 50–60% over the past year.
• Vermont producers indicated reduced feed availability and quality.
• Across New England, tight margins effected most farm operations.
These combined pressures—rising energy costs, volatile markets, input shortages, and climate challenges—are making it difficult for Northeast dairy farmers. I emphasized to congressional staff that strategic support, including policies that stabilize energy, ensure affordable access to feed and fertilizer, support trade, and maintain infrastructure, would be critical for sustaining dairy operations and protecting the regional milk supply.
House Transportation Committee Considers Weight Exemption to Surface Transportation Reauthorization Bill
The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee held a surface transportation reauthorization markup this Thursday. The committee considered several initiatives aimed at weight exemption and improving freight logistics, enhancing rail security, and addressing cargo theft and fraud.
Weight Exemption Pilot Program - Rep. Johnson (R-SD) introduced an amendment for a Weight Exemption Pilot Program, creating a voluntary ten-year pilot allowing states to increase truck weights on federal interstates up to 91,000 pounds on six axles. The program aims to improve freight efficiency while providing data on infrastructure impacts and safety considerations. NDFC will be targeting these members who serve on the committee for their support: Reps. Bresnahan (R-PA), Perry (R-PA), Van Drew (R-NJ), Deluzio (D-PA), Gillen (D-NY), Nadler (D-NY), Moulton (D-MA), Pappas (D-NH), Pou (D-NJ), and Ryan (D-NY).
Additionally, below are additional provisions that NDFC, NMPF, and USDEC support to address logistics transparency and cargo security issues:
• Freight Logistics Optimization Works (FLOW) Program
Section 7006 codifies the FLOW Program, directing the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) to establish a voluntary public-private data-sharing initiative. The program will help improve freight visibility, reduce bottlenecks, strengthen supply chains, and support data-informed policy decisions. BTS will serve as a neutral steward, aggregating and anonymizing the data collected.
• Advisory Committee on Cargo Theft and Freight Fraud
Section 7109 directs the Secretary of Transportation to establish an advisory committee of up to 20 members representing law enforcement, the freight industry, and cybersecurity experts. The committee will provide recommendations on mitigating cargo theft and fraud, consider impacts on supply chains, and submit biennial reports to Congress on progress.
• Rail Freight Cargo Security Assessment
Section 10410 requires the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to conduct a comprehensive assessment of freight rail security vulnerabilities, with a focus on preventing organized theft, and to report findings to Congress.
These measures reflect growing attention on freight system efficiency, supply chain security, and innovative pilot programs aimed at balancing commercial needs with public safety.
Reconciliation 2.0
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 comprise the reconciliation package. Following consideration of Democrats’ first challenges, the Parliamentarian ruled against a significant part of the Homeland Security Committee bill and funding for the White House ballroom included in the Judiciary Committee bill. Senate Republicans will rewrite those provisions to try to bring them into compliance with the Byrd rule.
Senate floor debate and vote-a-rama began on Thursday. Most of the amendments offered during debate are sure to fail. But an anticipated Democratic amendment that would strike the ballroom funding and divert that money to other law enforcement projects could garner sufficient support from moderate Republicans to pass, based on their concerns about the political optics surrounding that project. Even if that provision survives in the Senate, House Republicans might ultimately vote to remove it.
Reconciliation 3.0
House Speaker Johnson (R-LA) says that Republicans can pass a third reconciliation bill that will addresses 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 win the support of virtually the entire conference. A large bill would require significant, potentially unpopular, spending cuts to satisfy deficit hawks. But moderates do not want to be in the position of having to vote for such provisions so close to the midterm elections.
FY 2027 Appropriations
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 only bill to advance out of the Appropriations Committee with any Democratic support.
Ukraine Aid
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 rank-and-file members have used this previously rare process to bypass leadership and force a vote on a bill. In addition to Rep. Fitzpatrick, Rep. Bacon (R-NE) signed the discharge petition, as did Rep. Kiley (I-CA), who recently changed his party from Republican to Independent.
War Powers Resolution
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 it.
House Republicans also narrowly defeated a similar War Powers resolution introduced by Rep. Gottheimer (D-NJ), by a vote of 212-212. Three Republicans voted for that measure: Reps. Barrett (R-MI), Fitzpatrick (R-PA), and Massie (R-KY).
