House and Senate Action

Congress returns to a full schedule this week, with the Senate focused on high-stakes negotiations over its version of the budget reconciliation package and both chambers responding to growing tensions in the Middle East.

Senate

The Senate is scheduled to receive a classified briefing on Iran early in the week, following President Trump’s recent announcement of U.S. military strikes on Iranian nuclear sites. In response, Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) is advancing a War Powers Resolution that would require congressional approval for any further military action. Senate Democrats are working to fast-track the measure, even as Republicans focus on finalizing their reconciliation package (more on this below).

The upper chamber will also consider a handful of nominations, including Daniel Zimmerman to be an Assistant Secretary of Defense, Paul Dabbar to be Deputy Secretary of Commerce, and Kenneth Kies to be an Assistant Secretary of the Treasury.

House

After a one-week break for Juneteenth, the House will consider a slate of bills on the suspension calendar (requires 2/3 majority for passage), including legislation – the WIPPES Act (H.R. 2964) – that would require the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to issue regulations mandating that certain pre-moistened, nonwoven wipes (e.g., baby wipes, cleaning wipes, and personal care wipes) be clearly labeled with the phrase “Do Not Flush.” Another bill (H.R. 1713) on the docket would strengthen federal oversight of foreign acquisitions of U.S. agricultural land by adding the Secretary of Agriculture to the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), an interagency body responsible for reviewing the national security implications of foreign investments.

Later in the week, the House will consider four measures on the regular calendar, including the first (of 12) FY 2026 appropriations bills – Military Construction and Veterans Affairs. Lawmakers will also consider legislation (H.R. 875) that would mandate the deportation of any undocumented individual convicted of, or admitting to, driving while intoxicated. Another bill (H.R. 275) would require the Department of Homeland Security to publish monthly reports detailing the number and nationalities of “Special Interest Aliens” – or non-U.S. nationals who, based on an analysis of their travel patterns, potentially pose national security risks to the United States. Finally, the House is expected to vote on a resolution condemning recent protests and riots in Los Angeles.

The full House agenda can be accessed here.

Senate Republicans Face Time Crunch on Reconciliation Measure

After concluding work on individual committee titles of their budget reconciliation package last week, Senate Republicans now face a last-minute scramble to finalize the full text of the legislation. While GOP leaders initially aimed to release the full draft package today and begin floor consideration by Thursday, the timeline was thrown into doubt over the weekend following key rulings from the Senate Parliamentarian.

The Parliamentarian determined that several major cost-saving provisions across multiple titles of the bill do not comply with reconciliation rules, meaning they would require 60 votes to pass – rather than a simple majority under the filibuster-proof process. This has forced Senate drafters back to the negotiating table just days ahead of their self-imposed July 4 deadline.

Among the provisions struck was the Senate Agriculture Committee’s proposal to shift a portion of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program’s (SNAP) benefit costs to states based on payment error rates. Committee leaders have pledged to revise the language to preserve the underlying policy goals. Additionally, provisions seeking to withhold federal funding from sanctuary jurisdictions and to authorize state and local officials to enforce immigration law were also deemed noncompliant.

Because the Senate’s final product must meet a minimum deficit-reduction threshold established in that chamber’s budget reconciliation instructions, lawmakers must now work to find alternative savings elsewhere in the package.

This comes amid ongoing intra-party disagreements over several controversial provisions, including deep cuts to Medicaid, the State and Local Tax (SALT) deduction, Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) rollbacks, and public lands sales. Meanwhile, Senate Democrats are preparing to challenge up to 60 provisions in the Finance Committee’s title – covering tax and Medicaid policy – which could further delay progress. Rulings on those provisions are not expected until Tuesday at the earliest.

Although the timing of a Senate vote remains uncertain, Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) has warned that he may keep the chamber in session through the Independence Day recess, if necessary.

Senate Panel Proposes Public Lands Sales for Housing and Community Development

The Senate Energy and Natural Resources (ENR) Committee recently released its portion of the reconciliation package, which includes a controversial public lands proposal aimed at facilitating housing and community development across the West. The draft legislation would require the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) to identify and sell between 0.5 and 0.75 percent of their total land holdings in 11 western states over a five-year period. With BLM managing approximately 245 million acres and USFS overseeing roughly 193 million acres, the required disposals could result in the sale of 2.2 to 3.3 million acres nationwide.

It should be noted that Congressman Ryan Zinke (R-MT), who formerly served as Interior Secretary during President Trump’s first term, was credited with stopping a similar proposal from moving as part of the House-passed reconciliation bill. The Senate bill noticeably excludes Montana from any public lands sales.

While the bill does not specify which lands would be sold, an analysis by the Wilderness Society estimates that more than 250 million acres of federal land could meet the eligibility criteria. While the stated goal is to expand the housing supply, the scope and structure of the proposal have prompted bipartisan concern, particularly around federal overreach, the potential for poorly sited development, and a lack of safeguards to prevent unintended impacts on environmentally sensitive areas and local land use plans.

Key Details of the Proposal

• Mandatory Disposal Requirement: Directs Interior and Agriculture to sell 0.5-0.75% of BLM and USFS lands, respectively, within five years.
• Eligible Land: FS and BLM-managed lands in 11 states (Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming). Supplemental documents released by the committee indicate that most parcels selected for disposal will likely fall within a five-mile radius of population centers. It should be noted that the measure explicitly excludes certain areas from development, including National Parks, National Monuments, Wilderness Areas, among others. It would also exclude lands with valid existing rights.
• Nomination Process: Within 30 days of enactment, agencies must begin soliciting nominations of federal land tracts for disposal. Updated lists of nominated or selected parcels must be published every 60 days. Nominations may come from any interested party, but states and local governments are explicitly encouraged to participate.
• Consultation Requirements: Prior to designating any tract for sale, agencies must consult with the relevant state, affected local governments, and tribal governments regarding the suitability of the land for development.
• Priority Criteria:
  • Nominated by a state or local government;
  • Adjacent to existing developed areas;
  • Access to existing infrastructure; or
  • Suitable for residential use
• Land Use Restrictions: Parcels sold must be used for housing or associated community needs, as defined by the Secretary.
• Right of First Refusal: Agencies may offer states or local governments the first opportunity to purchase land, but this is optional, not mandatory.
• Revenue Distribution:
  • 5% to the local jurisdiction;
  • 5% for deferred maintenance on federal lands in the state;
  • Remainder deposited into the U.S. Treasury.
• Implementation Funding: $10 million is included to help administer the program.

 Relevant Hearings & Markups

Tuesday, June 24 | 10 a.m. HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy will appear before the House Energy and Commerce Committee to discuss the president’s fiscal year 2026 budget request for the department.

More Details on HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy's Appearance

Wednesday, June 25 | 10 a.m. The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee will consider consider legislation – the Promoting Efficient Review for Modern Infrastructure Today (PERMIT) Act (H.R. 3898) – that seeks to reform the Clean Water Act (CWA) permitting process. Among other things, it would codify Waters of the United States (WOTUS) exclusions for water treatment systems, ephemeral features, groundwater, and prior converted cropland. The measure also incorporates a number of individual bills into the underlying package, including legislation (H.R. 3300) that would clarify that federal, state, local, and tribal firefighting agencies do not need a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit to use fire retardant from aircraft when responding to wildfires.

More Details on The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee

Wednesday, June 25 | 10 a.m. On Wednesday morning, the House Natural Resources Committee will meet to consider a slate of bills within the panel’s jurisdiction, including legislation (H.R. 3168) that would reauthorize the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program.

Wednesday, June 25 | 10:15 a.m. The panel's Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife, and Fisheries will hold a legislative hearing on four bills including the Snow Water Supply Forecasting Reauthorization Act (H.R. 3857) and the Sport Fish Restoration, Recreational Boating Safety, and Wildlife Restoration Act (H.R. 3858).

Thursday, June 26 | 10 a.m. The panel's Subcommittee on Federal Lands will hold an oversight hearing titled "Fix Our Forests: Advancing Innovative Technologies to Improve Forest Management and Prevent Wildfires."

More Details on Subcommittee on Federal Lands

Monday, June 23 | 2 p.m. The House Appropriations Committee will hear from Attorney General Pam Bondi on the president's FY26 budget request for the Department of Justice.

Monday, June 23 | 6 p.m. The panel's Subcommittee on the Legislative Branch will mark up its FY26 spending bill.

Monday, June 23 | 7:30 p.m. The full committee will meet to consider the FY26 spending bill for Agriculture-Rural Development.

Tuesday, June 24 | 10 a.m. The full committee will meet to consider the FY26 spending bill for the Department of Homeland Security.

Wednesday, June 26 | 10 a.m. The full committee will meet to consider the FY26 spending bill for the Legislative Branch

More Details on FY26 spending bill for the Legislative Branch

Tuesday, June 24 | 10:30 a.m. The Senate Appropriations Committee's Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs (VA) will hear from VA Secretary Doug Collins on the president’s fiscal year 2026 budget proposal.

Wednesday, June 25 | 10 a.m. The Subcommittee on Commerce-Justice-Science will meet for an oversight hearing on the Judiciary Department. Attorney General Pam Bondi will testify.

More Details on The Subcommittee on Commerce-Justice-Science