Former Congressman Billy Long (R-Missouri) was confirmed earlier today to lead the Internal Revenue Service, giving the beleaguered agency he once sought to abolish a permanent commissioner after months of acting leaders and massive staffing cuts that have threatened to derail next year’s tax filing season. The Senate confirmed Long on a 53-44 vote despite Democrats’ concerns about the Republican’s past work for a firm that pitched a fraud-ridden coronavirus pandemic-era tax break and about campaign contributions he received after President Donald Trump nominated him to serve as IRS commissioner.
The Senate voted Wednesday to advance legislation setting up a regulatory framework for payment stablecoins, bringing the crypto bill one step closer to a final vote in the upper chamber when eighteen Democrats voted with almost every Republican to end debate on an updated version of the GENIUS Act. The Senate will continue pushing the bill forward today and is expected to take up a Motion to table amendment #2310 and a Motion to waive a budget point of order. The Senate will the take up the Hagerty-Gillibrand substitute amendment #2307 to Cal. #66 S.1583, GENIUS Act after which the Senate is expected to vote on a Motion to invoke cloture on Cal. #66, S.1582, GENIUS ACT, as amended.
The House is expected to complete consideration of S. 331 – HALT Fentanyl Act and then turn to complete consideration of H.R. 2056 – District of Columbia Federal Immigration Compliance Act of 2025 and H.R. 4 – Rescissions Act of 2025. The White House’s rescission package, its formal request to claw back funding for NPR, PBS and international aid that lawmakers had previously approved, would cancel $9.4 billion appropriated by Congress, looking to make permanent some of the Department of Government Efficiency’s spending cuts. Its primary focus is slashing foreign aid — from peacekeeping efforts to refugee assistance and climate projects — but it would also essentially cut off federal funding for NPR and PBS. Congress can cancel funds that the federal government has not yet spent but has previously appropriated under the rescissions process. Each year, Congress approves funding to keep the federal government running before the funds are disbursed to government agencies and programs. The president can temporarily defer funds or withhold them altogether — but only with Congress’ approval. The White House’s official transmission of the rescission package on June 3rd started the clock on a process that gives Congress 45 days to act. Rescissions requests first go before relevant committees for consideration, before moving to the full House and Senate for votes. In the Senate, rescission bills are not subject to the 60-vote threshold needed to advance most legislation in the upper chamber and only require a simple majority.
