September 4, 2026 Week in Review
The House and Senate will not be in session next week, with both chambers scheduled to return on September 14.
House leadership announced the chamber will no longer be in session during the last two weeks of September. The House is currently scheduled to hold its last votes before the recess on September 17 and will not return to session until after the November elections.
Congress:
- FY27 Appropriations: On September 1, the House passed the Senate-passed continuing resolution (CR) in a 370-48 vote under suspension of the rules. President Trump signed the measure into law the following day. The CR extends current funding for federal agencies, includes language that would delay the implementation of the Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) proposed rule, and provides a clean extension of surface transportation reauthorization through December 11, 2026.
- Surface Transportation Reauthorization Update: House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) said a full, five-year surface transportation reauthorization bill will likely be considered during the lame-duck session in November and December. Speaker Johnson also stated he would like to complete the legislation before January 2027, when the 119th Congress concludes. However, the Senate has yet to release its own surface transportation reauthorization proposal, raising the prospect that Congress will need another short-term extension beyond December 11.
- House E&C Subcommittee Holds Hearing on Water Infrastructure: On September 3, the House Energy and Commerce Environment Subcommittee held a hearing, entitled Reliable Water in the Digital Age: Examining Legislation to Strengthen Drinking Water Systems and Protect Ratepayers. During the hearing, lawmakers examined two water infrastructure-related bills, the Safe Drinking Water Infrastructure Improvement Act of 2026 and the Water Cost Accountability Act of 2026. Republicans emphasized the economic benefits of responsibly deploying data centers, while Democrats argued additional safeguards are needed to protect consumers from rising water and electricity costs associated with data centers.
- FirstNet Negotiations Expected to Drag into Lame-Duck: House Energy & Commerce (E&C) Telecommunications Subcommittee Chair Richard Hudson (R-NC) said negotiations on a FirstNet reauthorization are unlikely to advance before the lame-duck session. FirstNet’s authorization expires in February 2027, and failure to reauthorize the program would cut off first responders’ access to their dedicated communications network.
- 21st Century ROAD to Housing Implementation: On September 9, 2026, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is scheduled to notify each CDBG recipient of their housing growth improvement rate, as mandated by the Build Now Act – the provision that will tie some localities’ CDBG funding to their rate of housing production.
Trump Administration:
- DOT Launches Automated Vehicle National Strategy: On September 3, the Department of Transportation (DOT) announced its Automated Vehicles National Strategy, which outlines safety standards for automated vehicle competency for fiscal years (FY) 2026 through 2030.
- DOJ Releases Opinion on Immigration Reporting Requirements: On September 2, the Department of Justice (DOJ) issued a legal opinion concluding that states receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) or Supplemental Security Income Program (SSI) funds must report individuals who are not lawfully present in the United States. The opinion states that this requirement applies across the entire state government, not solely to agencies administering the TANF and SSI programs.
- Federal Judge Blocks Birthright Citizenship EO: On September 2, U.S. District Judge Deborah Boardman issued a preliminary injunction, barring enforcement of President Trump’s executive order (EO), Continuing to Protect the Meaning and Value of American Citizenship. The EO seeks to deny citizenship to children born in the United States to foreign parents who came in a “commercial transaction” to gain citizenship or whose parents are “alien enemies.”
- FCC Opens Proposed Rulemaking to Evaluate E-Rate Program: The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released a proposed rulemaking to evaluate the E-Rate Program’s efficacy in providing universal service to schools and libraries, and whether to sunset the program. The E-Rate Program currently disburses approximately $2 billion annually to provide discounted telecommunications equipment to over 110,000 schools and libraries across the country. Comments are due October 13, 2026.
Grants:
- IMLS Releases Thirteen NOFOs: On September 1, the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) announced thirteen funding opportunities for museums and libraries, including the National Leadership Grants for Museums, the Laura Bush 21st Librarian Program, and the National Leadership Grants for Libraries. Applications are due by November 13, 2026.