Congress is in session.

The Senate returns today to consider nominations.

The House returns today to consider the NDAA, a short-term CR, and the third reconciliation package. 

The House Rules Committee will hold a business meeting on Monday to consider six bills, including the House’s NDAA (H.R.8800), short-term CR (H.R.9770), and Reconciliation 3.0 measure.

FY27 Appropriations: 

House Republicans released a stopgap CR measure on Friday, July 17, to fund the government through December 4, 2026. The House Rules Committee is scheduled to consider the measure on Monday, July 20. The bill would temporarily extend current FY 2026 funding levels while lawmakers continue negotiating FY 2027 appropriations bills. Senate Republicans are reportedly discussing the measure with the White House.

Reconciliation 3.0:

House Republicans are expected to hold a floor vote on the $95 billion reconciliation package on Monday, July 20 that includes funding for the Iran war, farm aid, and grants for election security. If approved by the House, the measure would move to the Senate for consideration. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD), as well as Sens. Ron Johnson (R-WI) and Bill Cassidy (R-LA) have criticized the lack of budgetary offsets to pay for the package.

NDAA: 

The House Rules Committee will meet on Monday, July 20, to consider its version of the NDAA. House Armed Services Ranking Member Adam Smith (D-WA) said he is likely to oppose the $1.15 trillion measure on the floor. Once it passes, the NDAA is expected to be merged with the SAVE America Act, Republicans’ voter ID bill. Meanwhile, the Senate failed to advance its NDAA in a procedural vote last week and will move straight to conference negotiations with the House.

House E&C To Hold Mark-up of Data Center Legislation: 

The House Energy & Commerce (E&C) is scheduled to hold a mark-up of the Ratepayer Protection Act (H.R.9340) on Monday, July 20. The legislation would require states to consider adopting a federal standard directing large electricity customers to pay the full cost of new generation and transmission upgrades. Sen. Jon Husted (R-OH) introduced companion legislation (S.5028) in the Senate on July 16.

House Judiciary to Consider Immigration Bill: 

The House Judiciary Committee is planning a Tuesday, July 21 markup of Republicans’ immigration bill, entitled the Permanent Trump Secure Border Act (H.R.9199). The bill would limit asylum eligibility, restrict immigration parole, and change rules for unaccompanied children and family detention.

Nominees: 

The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee will hold a business meeting to vote on moving forward several nominees, including Hal Duncan for Deputy Director of OMB, Cameron Hamilton for Administrator of FEMA, and David Cummins for Administrator of TSA.

HUD Issues Notice of Proposed Information Collection: 

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has proposed new grant award conditions that would require recipients to submit additional documentation for federally funded expenditures. Under the proposal, recipients would be required to provide financial records, such as invoices showing vendor or subrecipient names and accounting system payment registers, to substantiate payments made with federal funds, including payments made by subrecipients and contractors. Stakeholders have expressed concern that the proposed information collection could impose significant administrative burdens on grant recipients. Comments are due by September 8, 2026.

Hearings and Markups:

Judiciary: The House Judiciary Committee will hold a markup of the Permanent Trump Secure Border Act on Tuesday.

Education: The House Education and Workforce Committee will hold a markup of 10 bills that would move Education Department programs to other federal agencies on Tuesday.

Reconciliation 3.0: The Senate Appropriations Committee will hold a hearing entitled, “A Review of the President’s Supplemental Funding Request of June 24, 2026,” on Tuesday.

Housing: The House Financial Services Housing and Insurance Subcommittee will hold a hearing on oversight of the federal home loan bank system on Tuesday.

Nominees: The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee will hold a nomination hearing for several nominees, including Hal Duncan for Deputy Director of OMB, Cameron Hamilton for Administrator of FEMA, and David Cummins for Administrator of TSA, on Wednesday.

FERC: FERC Chair Laura Swett will testify before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee on Wednesday.

Forest Service: Chief Tom Schultz of the U.S. Forest Service will testify before the House Agriculture Forestry and Horticulture Subcommittee on Wednesday.

Public Lands: The House Natural Resources Committee will hold a markup on several public lands-related bills on Wednesday.

Disaster Communications: The Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee will hold a markup of several bills, including the Disaster Communications Coordination and Preparedness Act (S.4691) on Wednesday.

TSA: The Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee will hold a nomination hearing for David Cummins to be Administrator of TSA on Wednesday.