On Friday, House Republicans released a 15-page continuing resolution extending government funding through December 4th. Moving forward with a CR at this stage is far earlier than usual as the bill would temporarily extend current funding levels while lawmakers continue negotiating fiscal 2027 appropriations bills. The stopgap measure will certainly face resistance from some conservatives who have long opposed temporary funding patches as well as the House Democratic Caucus. The lower chamber has passed just three out of 12 appropriations bills for fiscal year 2027 so far. Just last week, the House passed a bill funding national security, the State Department and other relevant programs and as part of an effort to appease hardline conservatives, GOP leaders merged the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE America) Act with the funding bill before sending it to the Senate, in a legislative procedure known as MIRVing. The SAVE America Act would require proof of citizenship to register to vote in federal elections and the presentation of an ID to cast a ballot. The Senate is expected to strip the SAVE America Act out of the funding bill, though.
Across the Capitol, the Senate remains largely frozen on appropriations, with no markups scheduled and no spending bills released for consideration, though a timely budget justification hearing is on the docket. The Committee will hold a budget justification hearing on the President’s June supplemental funding request today, including nearly $70 billion for the Department of Defense which is far short of the President’s $350 billion defense number requested to move via reconciliation. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Joint Chiefs Chairman General John Caine, and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins are scheduled to testify.
For today, the House is expected to take up: Consideration of H.R. 8800 – National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2027, H.R. 6955 – Main Street Capital Access Act, H.R. 9770 – Continuing Appropriations Act, 2027 as well as one postponed suspension, H.R. 1118 – Value Over Cost Act of 2025, as amended.
Following Leader remarks, the Senate will proceed to Executive Session and resume consideration of Executive Calendar #775, Benjamin M. Flowers, of Ohio, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Sixth Circuit, post-cloture.
