This Week in Congress

Congress returned this week to Washington after the 4th of July recess, and is scheduled to remain in session through Thursday, with a full legislative agenda that includes appropriations, election policy, financial services, veterans' affairs, and public safety measures.

House leadership plans to consider four bills under a structured rule, requiring a simple majority for passage:

• H.R. 8595, the Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 National Security and Foreign Operations Appropriations Act;

• H.R. 139, legislation to make Daylight Saving Time permanent nationwide;

• H.R. 1181, a measure prohibiting credit card companies and payment processors from assigning a unique merchant category code to firearm retailers; and

• H.R. 9237, legislation aimed at reforming operations within the Department of Veterans Affairs.

In addition to these measures, Republican leadership is expected to bring 22 bills to the floor among the notable measures scheduled for consideration are several bills addressing aviation security (H.R. 8770, H.R. 8874, H.R. 9388, and H.R. 9391), campaign finance reforms (H.R. 3535, H.R. 8720, and H.R. 8738), legislation directing the Department of the Treasury to end production of the penny (H.R. 3074), and a proposal concerning acquisitions involving failing financial institutions (H.R. 6556).

The Senate's focused this week—and likely throughout the remainder of the current work period—will be confirming nominees to positions within the Trump Administration.

In addition, Senate leadership intends to begin floor consideration of the Fiscal Year 2027 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), one of Congress's most significant annual defense policy measures. The Senate's schedule, however, could be affected by funeral services for Sen. Graham (R-SC), which may require adjustments to floor activity and voting schedules later in the week.

So Many Bills, So Little Time: Agriculture Priorities Face August Recess Deadline

With the August congressional recess quickly approaching, members face a growing list of agricultural priorities that must compete for limited legislative time. From the farm bill and emergency farm assistance to biofuels policy and hemp regulations, Congress has a crowded agenda and difficult decisions ahead as it determines what can realistically move before they leave Washington.

At the top of the list is the long-awaited Senate farm bill, which remains unfinished as lawmakers prepare for the next legislative work period. At the same time, President Trump has requested more than $11 billion in additional farm assistance as part of a supplemental funding package that also includes defense priorities.

Other long-standing agricultural issues are also pressing for action, including efforts to secure nationwide, year-round sales of E15 fuel and address changes to hemp regulations scheduled to take effect in November. With the clock ticking before the August break, lawmakers are expected to prioritize the policies with the greatest political and economic impact.

“I wish we could get a farm bill before the election, but I think that’s going to come after the election,” Sen. Grassley (R-IA) told reporters last week. “E15 is very critical to farmers voting in the midterm elections, and so I would expect it to be at least in September, but there’s no reason it couldn’t be done in July.”

Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Boozman (R-AR) expressed optimism that progress can be made during the upcoming work period, noting that he looks forward to advancing the farm bill process and ensuring that any supplemental funding package provides the resources farmers need. “There’s real momentum to advancing policies that help farmers, and I’m committed to working with my colleagues to make that happen,” Boozman said.

However, broader political challenges could complicate the legislative path forward. House Republican leaders returned from the Fourth of July recess facing internal divisions after several major votes were postponed amid opposition from conservative members. The setbacks raised concerns among some members about whether Congress will have enough time and unity to advance major legislation before the fall election season.

The Senate also faces additional uncertainty following the unexpected death of Sen. Graham (R-SC), further narrowing the Republican majority. Meanwhile, Sen. McConnell (R-KY) remains away from the chamber while recovering from a fall and hospitalization, creating additional challenges for Senate leadership.

Beyond the farm bill, lawmakers are also working to address hemp policy changes that could significantly impact the industry. Rep. Barr (R-KY) is preparing to introduce bipartisan legislation aimed at revising provisions enacted in last year’s government funding package that hemp industry advocates argue would restrict access to certain products. The new restrictions are scheduled to take effect in November, prompting lawmakers and industry groups to push for changes before implementation.

Agriculture workforce policy is another issue awaiting congressional action. House Agriculture Committee Chairman Thompson (R-PA) is advancing legislation aimed at reforming agricultural labor programs, but the proposal must first receive consideration from the House Judiciary Committee, chaired by Rep. Jordan (R-OH). Jordan previously indicated that he had not yet decided whether his committee would take up the measure.

As members return to Washington, the challenge will be determining which agricultural priorities can move through the legislative process before the August recess — and which issues may need to wait until after the election. With a full agenda and limited time remaining, agriculture policy will be a major test of Congress’s ability to find common ground and deliver results for farmers, producers, and rural communities.

House Gridlock Persists as NDAA Delayed and Senate Presses Ahead

Congress returns from the Independence Day recess facing continued legislative uncertainty, as divisions within the House Republican Conference continue to stall floor action and delay consideration of several major legislative priorities, including the Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).

• House Floor Remains Paralyzed - As anticipated before the July 4 recess, House Republican leadership was unable to break a procedural impasse created by a group of conservative members led by Rep. Luna (R-FL). The group has continued to oppose House procedural rules that bring legislation to the floor unless Speaker (R-LA) agrees to advance the SAVE America Act alongside must-pass legislation.

o The dispute has effectively frozen the House floor, preventing leadership from moving forward with a number of priority measures.

• Speaker Johnson's Proposal Falls Short - In an effort to resolve the stalemate, Speaker Johnson proposed an unusual legislative procedure in which the House would separately vote on both the FY 2027 NDAA and an election security bill, with the understanding that, if both passed, they would be merged into a single legislative package before being transmitted to the Senate.  Leadership favored this approach because it preserved longstanding House rules prohibiting non-germane amendments to the NDAA while still allowing members to vote on election security legislation. Notably, the election security measure selected for the process was an earlier House-passed version of the SAVE America Act approved in February. That version primarily addresses proof-of-citizenship requirements for voter registration but does not include several provisions sought by President Trump and some conservative Republicans, including restrictions on mail-in voting or language addressing transgender-related election issues.

• Conservative Opposition Continues - Rep. Luna rejected the Speaker's proposal, arguing that combining the legislation through the process would make it easier for the Senate to remove the election security provisions. However, congressional procedure suggests that concern may be largely symbolic. The Senate retains the authority to amend or remove provisions from virtually any House-passed legislation before final passage, regardless of how those provisions were attached. Moreover, the Senate traditionally develops and passes its own version of the NDAA before negotiating a final conference agreement with the House later in the year, making the fate of any House-added provisions uncertain.

• Failed Rule Vote Sends House Home Early - The procedural deadlock culminated on June 30 when every House Democrat joined 14 Republicans in voting against the rule governing floor debate. Without an adopted rule, House leadership was forced to cancel the remainder of the week's legislative schedule and adjourn the chamber early for the holiday recess. Rep. Luna has publicly stated that she intends to continue blocking procedural votes until House leadership agrees to her demands.

• NDAA Put on Hold - As a result of the ongoing dispute, House Republican leaders have temporarily shelved consideration of the FY 2027 NDAA, one of Congress's most significant annual legislative packages. In the meantime, leadership plans to consider several smaller bills under new procedural rules, including legislation that would make Daylight Saving Time permanent—a proposal strongly supported by many Florida Republicans, including Rep. Luna. Leadership hopes advancing one of her priorities may provide an opportunity to resolve the impasse and restore regular House business.

• Senate Moves Forward - While the House remains stalled, the Senate plans to begin consideration of its own version of the FY 2027 NDAA this week.  That effort, however, may also encounter procedural challenges. Senate Democrats have signaled they could delay or oppose consideration of the bill in response to concerns over the Administration's military funding requests and the President's decision to undertake military operations involving Iran without seeking prior congressional authorization.

• Looking Ahead - With internal Republican divisions continuing to complicate House floor operations and Senate debate expected to generate its own challenges, Congress enters the summer facing significant hurdles to advancing key legislative priorities. The resolution of the House procedural standoff will be critical not only for the NDAA but also for appropriations, reconciliation, and other must-pass legislation expected later this year.

FY 2027 Appropriations Update: Congressional Dynamics Shift as Senate Vacancy Alters Political Landscape

Efforts to advance the Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 appropriations process continue to face significant procedural and political challenges in both chambers of Congress, raising questions about the timeline for completing annual government funding legislation before the start of the new fiscal year.

• House Appropriations Outlook - House Republican leadership continues to face procedural obstacles that have slowed consideration of FY 2027 appropriations bills. If the ongoing floor stalemate is not resolved before the August recess, the House risks falling further behind in advancing its spending measures. A delay in passing additional appropriations bills could diminish the House's negotiating leverage when lawmakers begin conference discussions with the Senate later this year to reconcile differences between the chambers' spending proposals.

• Senate Appropriations Remain Stalled - Progress in the Senate has also been limited. Sen. McConnell's (R-KY) continued absence while receiving medical treatment, combined with unified Democratic opposition on committee votes, has prevented the Senate Appropriations Committee from advancing its own FY 2027 spending bills.  As a result, both chambers remain behind the traditional appropriations schedule heading into the latter part of the summer.

• Senate Republican Majority Narrows - The passing of Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) over the weekend has altered the Senate's partisan balance, leaving Republicans with a 52-47 majority. However, with Sen. McConnell continuing to recover from hospitalization, the conference is effectively operating with an even narrower voting margin on key legislative and procedural matters.

• South Carolina Appointment Process - Under South Carolina law, Gov. Henry McMaster (R) is responsible for appointing an interim senator to serve for the remainder of the current Congress. The state will subsequently conduct a special Republican primary followed by a general election to select a senator to complete the remainder of the term.

• Committee Leadership Changes Expected - While Gov. McMaster's appointee will fill the Senate vacancy, the new senator is not expected to automatically assume Sen. Graham's committee assignments or leadership positions. Attention is now focused on the Senate Budget Committee, where Sen. Scott (R-FL) is widely viewed as the next Republican in line to assume the committee's chairmanship, subject to action by Senate Republican leadership.

• Looking Ahead - With House floor operations constrained, Senate appropriations activity stalled, and changes in Senate membership affecting committee leadership and vote margins, Congress faces mounting pressure to accelerate work on FY 2027 appropriations following the August recess. Failure to restore momentum in the coming weeks could increase the likelihood that lawmakers will once again rely on short-term continuing resolutions to keep the federal government funded into the new fiscal year.

FY 2027 Appropriations Update: Congressional Dynamics Shift as Senate Vacancy Alters Political Landscape

Efforts to advance the Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 appropriations process continue to face significant procedural and political challenges in both chambers of Congress, raising questions about the timeline for completing annual government funding legislation before the start of the new fiscal year.

• House Appropriations Outlook - House Republican leadership continues to face procedural obstacles that have slowed consideration of FY 2027 appropriations bills. If the ongoing floor stalemate is not resolved before the August recess, the House risks falling further behind in advancing its spending measures. A delay in passing additional appropriations bills could diminish the House's negotiating leverage when lawmakers begin conference discussions with the Senate later this year to reconcile differences between the chambers' spending proposals.

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