Leadership Steve Scalise RSS Articles

The Leader's Floor Lookout: Tuesday, September 1, 2026

Tue, 01 Sep 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Here’s what to watch for on the House Floor today:

Condemning Socialism and Protecting American Elections

Socialism is one of the most destructive ideologies in world history, time and time again proving itself to be a failed experiment that only leads to communist regimes, totalitarian rule, and brutal dictatorships. More than 100 million people have been killed as a result of the mass murders and famines that accompany failed socialist states.

America is seeing a troubling rise in support for socialism. This extremist ideology is no longer just a threat from abroad, it’s growing within our own borders as more and more socialists are running for office. The dangerous policies pushed by the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) seek to dismantle the system our Founding Fathers put in place. Not only does the DSA call for abolishing the U.S. Senate, implementing ranked-choice voting, and replacing the two-party system, but they also advocate for noncitizens to vote in American elections.

House Republicans believe in the importance of upholding American freedoms and ensuring the integrity and security of elections. We cannot allow history to be ignored and the threat of socialism to grow unchallenged in America. House Republicans are bringing forward a resolution to condemn socialism in all forms and the extremist policies of the DSA.

Rep. Jeff Crank’s resolution, H. Res. 1490, condemns socialism in all its forms and the radical left Democratic Socialists of America. This resolution also condemns specific DSA policies, including allowing noncitizens to vote in American elections, and pledges to protect Americans’ right to vote.

House Republicans will always fight to prevent socialist ideologies from taking hold in America and preserve the rights and freedoms for the American people.

Providing Stability and Relief for American Fisheries

America’s fishing communities not only provide us with delicious seafood, but they play critical roles in their local economies. This is particularly true in the Northeast, home to American lobster and Jonah crab fisheries. However, these fishermen are facing burdensome regulations that could force them to close their doors in 2028 unless Congress takes action.

To prevent the crippling effects of these regulations, House Republicans will bring to the floor today legislation to delay these regulations to 2035. This will give Congress time to find commonsense, business-friendly, and science-driven solutions to address the problems of these regulations and provide fishermen with some certainty.

Extending this deadline will help bolster American seafood competitiveness, stabilize the industry, and continue providing jobs to hardworking fishermen.

Rep. Mike Lawler’s bill, H.R. 9436, amends the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 to extend the time period for which certain regulations concerning the North Atlantic right whale are effective. This will provide needed relief for fisheries by sustaining the current regulatory framework that governs American lobster and Jonah crab fisheries in the Northeast.

House Republicans are taking action to support America’s fishermen and small businesses.

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Scalise: Democrats' Socialist Agenda Means Higher Costs for American Families

Tue, 01 Sep 2026 04:00:00 GMT

This morning, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) joined Fox Business Network’s Mornings with Maria to discuss House Republicans’ work to lower costs and protect taxpayers and the Democrats’ continued embrace of a socialist agenda. Leader Scalise also highlighted how communities are benefiting from data center investment and emphasized that decisions about those projects should remain at the local level.

Click here or the image above to view Leader Scalise's full interview.

Highlights from Leader Scalise's interview:

On America First legislation held up in the Senate:

“We have almost 600 bills that have been passed out of the House. Over in the Senate you've got the National Defense Authorization Act. You've got the farm bill, which is critical to Middle America. We want to help our farmers. That bill's over in the Senate, and it’s really bipartisan. We had a big permitting reform bill. That bill would help make it easier to build things in America, and by the way, would also lower costs. If you care about affordability, you should want to pass that farm bill out of the Senate. Democrats are blocking that. And then, of course, you have the SAVE America Act. Which ensures the sanctity of the American vote. Just showing a picture ID to vote. Everybody understands that. I've been all over the country. Everywhere you go, people understand SAVE America. They want it because they want to preserve their vote. Because if somebody is voting illegally, they're stealing your vote. That bill's over in the Senate too."

On the socialist takeover of the Democrat Party:

“It goes back to the old Margaret Thatcher saying, socialism ultimately fails because you eventually run out of other people's money. And Mamdani is already seeing this in New York. You know, he has no money to do all these promises that he made. Everything's going to be free. You know, the free grocery stores, the free buses. Everybody knows there is no free lunch. Somebody has to pay for it. And all the people that pay for it are leaving New York. Because they're not — they're not going to pay for this madness. And so they just keep raising taxes more and more. It's insanity. And so what you end up with is higher costs, higher inflation. That's what the socialist agenda will get you. And by the way, that is on the ballot this November. So I know Democrats here in Washington are scared to death of taking this vote because they don't want the country to see what they really stand for. They're all backing this socialist agenda.... and they will absolutely take all of your money in taxes to do the mad things they're going to try to do, and it's all going to fail. Go look at socialist countries. It just doesn't work. They take your money first, and then the failure comes later.”

On the local benefits of data centers:

"Ultimately they're decided at the local level and if you want them in your community. And by the way, there are a lot of communities that do want them. Then they're working out really well. If you don't want them, that's your choice. Look, in Louisiana, Meta's got the largest data center in the world being built in little Richland Parish. And do you know what Richland Parish was just able to do because of the data center that Meta built? They were able to give every single school teacher in that parish a $50,000 bonus. Bonus, not their salary. That's on top of their salary because of the data center. You know, Loudoun County in Virginia, is saying yes to data centers. They were just able to give a 30% property tax cut to every resident in Loudoun County. So if you say yes to it, there are really good benefits that come.

“This is a competition with China. Let's be clear about this. And we are investigating whether China is behind a lot of this misinformation, false information against data centers. You know, who's funding this campaign, I think is a good question to ask against data centers. Because if it's literally a war between America and China, China is the only one that benefits. And so we've been investigating it. We're finding some things. X just uncovered over 200 bots that are being controlled by China that are spewing out a lot of this stuff.

"Bottom line is President Trump ensured with the Ratepayer Protection Pledge that every data center is going to have to pay their own way as far as the rates go on utilities. And there was a good study done that showed they're not raising anybody's utility costs. Where you have higher utility rates is in all blue-run states. Go look at the data. Because people are fleeing those states. So those ratepayers are paying more even without a data center because they're moving to red states with data centers that have lower utility rates. But it works out well if you say yes to it and it's done right. It's a local community choice."

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The Leader's Floor Lookout: Week of August 31, 2026

Mon, 31 Aug 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Here’s what to watch for on the House Floor this week:

Condemning Socialism and Protecting American Elections

America is seeing a troubling rise in support for socialism. This extremist ideology is no longer just a threat from abroad, it’s growing within our own borders as more and more socialists are running for office. The dangerous policies pushed by the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) seek to dismantle the system our founding fathers put in place. Not only does the DSA call for abolishing the U.S. Senate, implementing ranked-choice voting, and replacing the two-party system, but they also advocate for noncitizens to vote in American elections.

House Republicans will always fight to prevent socialist ideologies from taking hold in America and preserve the rights and freedoms for the American people.

Preserving the Legitimacy of the Supreme Court

Our Founding Fathers created a system to protect Americans from concentrated power by establishing three coequal branches of government: legislative, executive, and judicial. As the highest court, the Supreme Court serves as a critical check on the other branches of government and safeguards the rights and freedoms of every American.

But today, this system is under attack. Radical left Democrats and the DSA want to politicize and restructure the Supreme Court, effectively destroying the constitutional safeguards our Founders put in place.

For years, Democrats have called for packing the Supreme Court with more left-wing judges and now the DSA is going even further by calling to abolish the Supreme Court and replace it with a judicial system subordinate to Congress.

We cannot allow radical Democrats to dismantle the foundation upon which our government was founded. A Supreme Court that is not equal to the legislative and executive branches or is capriciously altered with left-wing political judges will end the court’s independence, threaten the freedoms of Americans, and jeopardize our system of checks and balances. That is why this week House Republicans are bringing forward a resolution to propose a Constitutional amendment affirming that the Supreme Court consists of nine justices, preserving the court’s legitimacy and the rights of our citizens.

Rep. Andy Bigg’s resolution, H.J. Res. 1, proposes a Constitutional amendment that would require the Supreme Court of the United States to be composed of nine justices.

House Republicans are standing up to defend our Constitution and protect the freedoms of the American people.

Providing Stability and Relief for American Fisheries

To prevent the crippling effects of these regulations, House Republicans will bring to the floor this week legislation to delay these regulations to 2035. This will give Congress time to find commonsense, business-friendly, and science-driven solutions to address the problems of these regulations and provide fishermen with some certainty.

Extending this deadline will help bolster American seafood competitiveness, stabilize the industry, and continue providing jobs to hardworking fishermen.

House Republicans are taking action to support America’s fishermen and small businesses.

Strengthening America's Critical Mineral Supply Chain

Critical minerals are the backbone of modern defense, technology, clean energy, AI, and more, making them indispensable to everyday life. With global demand for critical minerals surging, securing these resources is essential for maintaining America’s competitive edge and global leadership.

Despite having abundant natural resources right here in America, excessive permitting burdens and red tape under prior administrations obstructed development of America’s natural resources, hindering U.S. mining projects and limiting access to these crucial domestic resources. These misguided policies leave us reliant on foreign adversaries like Communist China for our critical mineral needs, threatening America’s security and competitive edge in the 21st century. That is why this week House Republicans will bring to the floor the Protecting Domestic Mining Act to support mining projects and jobs by expanding the eligibility for fast-tracked mining permits.

Rep. Jefferson Shreve’s bill, H.R. 1501, the Protecting Domestic Mining Act, bolsters the American critical mineral supply chain by cutting permitting delays, thus fast-tracking certain critical mineral projects and reducing reliance on foreign adversaries.

House Republicans are working to strengthen America’s critical mineral supply chain.

Ensuring Taxpayer Dollars Support Academic Freedom

For years, college campuses have ceded to Hamas sympathizers and let antisemitism thrive on campus. This lack of leadership has failed to protect Jewish students, staff, and faculty from violence and harassment. It’s also given into antisemitic campaigns, including the radical BDS movement that seeks to destroy Israel by crippling its economy through boycotts, divestments, and economic sanctions.

Universities that allow this antisemitism should not receive federal funding. House Republicans are bringing forward legislation to protect students who want to participate in academic programs in Israel from harassment and obstruction and hold educational institutions who yield to the BDS movement accountable.

Rep. Virginia Foxx’s measure, H.R. 4795, the Protect Economic and Academic Freedom Act, will amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to bar institutions from eligibility for certain funds if they participate in non-expressive commercial boycotts of Israel or cannot certify that students are not obstructed from participating in programs in Israel.

House Republicans are fighting to eradicate antisemitism on college campuses.

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Committee Cliff Notes: Weekly Preview – Week of August 31, 2026

Mon, 31 Aug 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Here’s what to watch for from House Republican committees during the week:

Appropriations

On Friday, September 4, the Subcommittee on Defense will hold a field hearing called "Industrial Base and Workforce Development for Skilled Trades."

Education & Workforce

On Tuesday, September 1, the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education will hold a hearing called "Supporting Working Families: State-Led Child Care Solutions."

On Wednesday, September 2, the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections will hold a hearing called "Less Red Tape, More Opportunity: Unleashing American Workers and Job Creators."

Energy & Commerce

On Tuesday, September 1, the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade will hold a markup on the following measures:

H.R. 10170, the Memory Chip Competitiveness Assessment Act (Miller-Meeks)
H.R. 10158, the Automotive National and Economic Security Act of 2026 (Harshbarger)
H.R. 10152, the Open-Source AI Leadership Act (Evans)
H.R. 6207, the Chip EQUIP Act (Lofgren)
H.R. 10163, the American Quantum Competitiveness Act (Langworthy)
H.R. 6832, the Packaging and Claims Knowledge (PACK) Act of 2025 (Weber)
H.R. 7502, the Recycled Materials Attribution Act (Langworthy)
H.R. 9385, the PROTECT USA Act of 2026 (Fitzgerald)
H.R. 7945, the Nitrous Oxide Safety Act of 2026 (Mullin)
H.R. 2713, the Mitigating Automated Internet Networks for (MAIN) Event Ticketing Act (Harshbarger)
H.R. 5967, the Strategic Task Force on Scam Prevention Act (Menendez)
H.R. 6488, the Reducing Exploitative Social Media Exposure for Teens (RESET) Act (Houchin)

On Tuesday, September 1, the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology will hold a markup on the following measures:

H.R. 2805, the PLAN for Broadband Act (Walberg)
H.R. 4950, the Data BRIDGE Act (Houchin)
H.R. 6152, the Foreign Robocall Elimination Act (McDowell)
H.R. 7294, the AI for Secure Networks Act (Menendez)
H.R. 8255, the Satellite and Telecommunications (SAT) Streamlining Act (Guthrie)
H.R. 9129, the GUARD Act (Moolenaar)

On Thursday, September 3, the Subcommittee on Environment will hold a hearing called "Reliable Water in the Digital Age: Examining Legislation to Strengthen Drinking Water Systems and Protect Ratepayers"

Financial Services

On Wednesday, September 2, the Committee on Financial Services will hold a full committee hearing called "Strengthening the American Economy: Promoting Growth, Opportunity, and Prosperity."

Foreign Affairs

On Tuesday, September 1, the Middle East and North Africa Subcommittee will hold a hearing called "Countering Houthi Terrorism: Protecting U.S. Interests and Security in the Red Sea."

Intelligence

On Monday, August 31, the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence will hold a full committee meeting called "Committee Business to Consider: Review of the 9/11 Commission Report."

On Wednesday, September 2, the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence will hold a full committee hearing called "Persistent Competition & Legacy Architectures."

Judiciary

On Tuesday, September 1, the Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement will hold a hearing called “Sanctuary Policies, Tragic Consequences.”

On Wednesday, September 2, the Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, Artificial Intelligence, and the Internet will hold a hearing called “Renewal of USPTO Fee Setting Authority: Giving Full Effect to the America Invents Act.”

On Wednesday, September 2, the Subcommittee on the Constitution and Limited Government will hold a hearing called “Subject to the Jurisdiction Thereof: Birthright Citizenship and the Fourteenth Amendment, Part II.”

Natural Resources

On Wednesday, September 2, the Subcommittee on Federal Lands will hold a legislative hearing on the following measures:

H.R. 642, the Myakka Wild and Scenic River Act of 2025 (Steube)
H.R. 5470, the Route 66 National Historic Trail Designation Act (LaHood)
H.R. 6788, the Montana Sportsmen Conservation Act (Downing)
H.R. 9269, the Renewing the African American Civil Rights Network Act (Clyburn)
H.R. 9600, the Common Sense Act 250 Act of 2026 (Raskin)
H.R. 9779, the Hands Off Our Boca Chica Beach Act of 2026 (Gonzalez)
H.R. 10128, To codify Secretary's Order No. 3434 of the Department of the Interior (McClintock)
H.R. 10136, the Crossett Experimental Forest Act of 2026 (Westerman)
S. 675, the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library Act (Hoeven)

Oversight and Government Reform

On Tuesday, September 1, the Task Force on Defending Constitutional Rights and Exposing Institutional Abuses will hold a hearing called "Protecting American Citizenship: Confronting Birth Tourism."

On Wednesday, September 2, the Subcommittee on Economic Growth, Energy Policy, and Regulatory Affairs will hold a hearing called "No Flame, More Pain: How State and Local Bans on Natural Gas Increase Costs."

Rules

On Monday, August 31, the Committee on Rules will meet on the following measures:

H.R. 1501, the Protecting Domestic Mining Act of 2025 (Shreve)
H.R. 9436, To amend the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 to extend the time period for which certain regulation concerning the North Atlantic right whale are effective. [Northeast Lobsterman Protection Act of 2026] (Lawler)
H.R. 4795, the Protect Economic and Academic Freedom Act of 2026 (Foxx)
H. Res. 1490, Providing for the condemnation and denouncement of socialism in all its forms, and for other purposes (Crank)

On Wednesday, September 2, the Committee on Rules will hold a member day hearingcalled "Proposed Rules Changes for the 120th Congress."

Science, Space, and Technology

On Wednesday, September 2, the Subcommittee on Energy will hold a hearing called "Powering the Nuclear Renaissance: Accelerating U.S. Leadership in Advanced Nuclear Reactors."

Small Business

On Wednesday, September 2, the Subcommittee on Rural Development, Energy, and Supply Chains will hold a hearing called "Fueling the Golden Age: Future Resource Needs and Small Business Opportunity."

Veterans' Affairs

On Wednesday, September 2, the Committee on Veterans' Affairs will hold a full committee oversight hearing called “Beyond Go-Live: VA Electronic Health Record Modernization Status Update.”

Ways and Means

On Tuesday, September 1, the Subcommittee on Work and Welfare will hold a hearingcalled "Welfare Reform at 30: Restoring the Promise of Work and Personal Responsibility in Federal Welfare Programs."

On Wednesday, September 2, the Committee on Ways and Means will hold a full committee hearing called "Strategic Partnerships to Secure Critical Resources and Supply Chains."

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Scalise: House Republicans Have Put Money Back In Working Families' Pockets

Thu, 20 Aug 2026 04:00:00 GMT

This morning, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) joined Fox News' Fox & Friends to discuss President Trump’s decisive actions against Iran and its allies and how President Trump’s leadership has decimated Iran’s military, economy, and ability to build a nuclear weapon. Additionally, Leader Scalise highlighted Republicans' record of making life more affordable for working families and the Democrat Party embracing radical socialists.

Click here or the image above to view Leader Scalise's full interview.

Highlights from Leader Scalise's interview:

On holding Iran and its allies accountable:

“What President Trump has done is he's shown patience. You had the 60-day ceasefire, but every step of the way, you see Iran violating all the terms of that. And so what President Trump is saying is, don't mistake patience for weakness. We are going to hit you both, Iran - their economy, their military has been decimated by President Trump's action. Their ability to get a nuclear weapon has been decimated. But now we're going to look at all those people that are doing business and feeding billions of dollars into Iran's economy and say, You got to stop doing it or it's going to affect your economy too.”

On House Republicans’ efforts to lower costs for working families:

"A lot of the economic indicators are getting better, but they're not where we want them to be, Brian. But I'll tell you what, you know, whether you look at gas prices, if you look at all the costs that you want to track, costs at the grocery store, they're all coming down from where they were under President Biden because of the work we've been doing with President Trump to make life more affordable for working families. What we did on the tax code to really benefit working families— again, the benefits of that tax policy helps mostly— 70% of the benefits go to families making under $100,000 a year. No tax on overtime. 30 million Americans have taken that. That's like $4,000 more in your pocket. No tax on tips. Of course, seniors got a big tax benefit, and every Democrat voted no because they want that money up in Washington. And we saw the fraud, by the way. We cut fraud in places like Minneapolis. You know what a leering center is because we cut fraud. We took that fraud, $20 billion of stolen money, your tax dollars, just in Minneapolis.”

On the Democrat Party embracing socialism:

"It is common sense versus crazy. I was in Michigan last week campaigning with a number of our candidates. Our— my colleague and dear friend John James, who's running for governor. You got Mike Rogers, who's leading right now against El Sayed, who's their Senate candidate, who's a socialist as well, really to the left. He's running to the left of some of the DSA candidates in his socialist agenda. And it's a bunch of mini Mamdanis all around. It's not just one or two here or there. That is what the House will look like if the Democrats get the majority.”

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Scalise's Summer Update: Key House Republican Wins of 2026

Mon, 27 Jul 2026 04:00:00 GMT

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) released the following statement and accompanying summary of House Republican legislative victories showcasing the Conference's record of delivering results for the American people during the first half of 2026:

"House Republicans entered this year committed to building on the successes of President Trump's first year back in office—and that's exactly what we've done. We've worked to make life more affordable for hardworking families, passed the SAVE America Act to strengthen election integrity, reinforced our border security, advanced reforms to restore trust in government, and passed commonsense legislation that puts the American people first.

"While House Republicans have remained intent on governing, Democrats have repeatedly chosen obstruction over solutions. Rather than working to address the issues Americans care most about, they have spent much of the year locked in a public battle over the future of their own party.

“The contrast between the two parties has never been clearer. House Republicans have built a record of results that speaks for itself. As members return home for the district work period, they can point to these results as evidence of what a governing majority can achieve when it stays focused on the priorities of the American people.”

Keeping America Safe ✅

Border

S. 2 (Sen. Graham) – the Secure America Act: fully funds ICE and CBP through fiscal year 2029, guaranteeing these agencies have the necessary resources to carry out President Trump’s border agenda and ensuring congressional Democrats will no longer be able to stymie funding required to keep Americans safe.
- PASSED 214 - 212
  - Republicans: 214 - 0
  - Democrats: 0 - 211
  - Independent: 0 - 1

S. Con. Res. 33 (Sen. Graham) – establishes a congressional budget to responsibly fund Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection through the end of President Trump’s term, ensuring these agencies are able to keep the American people safe from threats.
- PASSED 215 - 211 - 1
  - Republicans: 215 - 0
  - Democrats: 0 - 211
  - Independent: 0 - 0 - 1

H.R. 1958 (Taylor) – the Deporting Fraudsters Act of 2026: amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to make illegal aliens who commit federal fraud or unlawfully receive public benefits inadmissible and removable from the United States, protecting federal programs from exploitation and defending taxpayer dollars.
- PASSED 231 - 186
  - Republicans: 211 - 0
  - Democrats: 20 – 186

H.R. 4638 (Calvert) – the Federal Working Animal Protection Act: creates a ground of inadmissibility and a ground of deportability explicitly for aliens who harm law enforcement animals to prevent animal abusers from entering the U.S. and streamline their removal from our nation.
- PASSED 228 - 190
  - Republicans: 212 - 0
  - Democrats: 15 - 190
  - Independent: 1 – 0

H. Res. 1128 (Mackenzie) – acknowledges the importance of fully funding the Department of Homeland Security, reiterates that partial funding of individual DHS agencies would degrade coordination and increase uncertainty in a heightened threat environment, emphasizes that the American people are at increasing risk each day DHS goes unfunded, and expresses our deep gratitude to DHS employees for their unwavering commitment to protect the U.S. from those who seek to cause harm.
- PASSED 225 - 187
  - Republicans: 215 - 0
  - Democrats: 9 - 187
  - Independent: 1 - 0

National Defense & National Security

H.R. 8800 (Rogers) – National Defense Authorization Act, 2027: authorizes appropriations to expand U.S. defense production capacity, modernize our military, and ensure America’s armed forces remain the most lethal, ready, and robust in the world, all while safeguarding taxpayer dollars.
- PASSED 216 - 212
  - Republicans: 209 - 7
  - Democrats: 6 - 205
  - Independent: 1 - 0

H.R. 261 (Carter) – Undersea Cable Protection Act: amends NMSA to block the Secretary of Commerce from prohibiting or requiring a permit for the installation, operation, maintenance, repair, or recovery of undersea fiber optic cables in a national marine sanctuary if such activities have already been authorized by federal and state agencies, getting rid of duplicative permitting laws while protecting national marine sanctuaries.
- PASSED 218 - 212
  - Republicans: 215 - 1
  - Democrats: 3 – 211

H.R. 7084 (Pfluger) – the Defending American Property Abroad Act: imposes retaliatory prohibitions to deter and punish any foreign nation that unlawfully seizes American assets, making sure American businesses are safeguarded from unjust expropriation.
- PASSED 247 - 164
  - Republicans: 205 - 0
  - Democrats: 41 - 164
  - Independent: 1 - 0

Critical Mineral Security

H.J. Res. 140 (Stauber) – Expresses congressional disapproval of the Public Land Order No. 7917 that implemented a mineral withdrawal of approximately 225,504 acres, banning mining and other resource extraction in Northern Minnesota and putting our nation’s mineral security at risk.
- PASSED 214 - 208
  - Republicans: 213 - 1
  - Democrats: 1 - 207

H.R. 4090 (Stauber) – The Critical Mineral Dominance Act: bolsters America’s critical mineral supply chains by codifying key provisions of Trump executive orders to streamline permitting, support domestic extraction, deliver certainty and consistency, and map resources as we work to reduce reliance on foreign adversaries and achieve mineral dominance.
- PASSED 224 - 195
  - Republicans: 214 - 1
  - Democrats: 10 - 194

H.R. 3617 (James) – Securing America’s Critical Minerals Supply Act: unleashes domestic production and bolsters America’s critical mineral supply chain by requiring the Department of Energy (DOE) to assess and strengthen critical energy resource supply chains, reducing our reliance on foreign adversaries and enhancing our energy independence.
- PASSED 223 - 206
  - Republicans: 214 - 1
  - Democrats: 9 - 205

Law Enforcement

H. Con. Res. 96 (Nunn) – Expresses congressional support for the brave men and women in law enforcement who risk their lives to uphold our rule of law and keep Americans safe, recognizes their extraordinary sacrifice, and acknowledges their many contributions to our communities.
- PASSED 243 - 173 - 3
  - Republicans: 213 - 0
  - Democrats: 29 - 173 - 3
  - Independent: 1 - 0

H.R. 2189 (Fitzgerald) – Law-Enforcement Innovate to De-Escalate Act: amends federal firearms law to classify “less-than-lethal” devices like tasers, which are meant to stop high-risk situations without using deadly force. This reform makes it easier for law enforcement to procure these devices and enhance officer and community safety.
- PASSED 233 - 185
  - Republicans: 211 - 1
  - Democrats: 22 - 184

H.R. 6260 (Fitzgerald) – the Keeping Violent Offenders Off Our Streets Act: amends the federal criminal statute dealing with insurance-related crimes to include corporate, for-profit, and non-profit entities that post bail for defendants, subjecting charitable bail funds to federal insurance fraud laws and state licensing requirements, and requiring their employees to pass criminal background checks. This reform will help address the increased frequency of charitable bail funds posting bail for violent offenders, which is associated with higher rates of failing to appear in court.
- PASSED 243 - 179
  - Republicans: 210 - 1
  - Democrats: 32 - 178
  - Independent: 1 - 0

H.R. 5625 (Harris-NC) – the Cashless Bail Reporting Act: requires the Attorney General to publish a list of state and local governments that implement reckless bail “reform” policies allowing people who have been accused of certain violent crimes – including murder, rape, sexual assault, carjacking, assault, and robbery – to be released pending trial on personal recognizance or upon execution of an unsecured appearance bond.
- PASSED 308 - 116
  - Republicans: 211 - 2
  - Democrats: 96 - 114
  - Independent: 1 - 0

H.R.2853 (Joyce) – the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act (CORCA) of 2025: expands federal law enforcement tools to crack down on organized retail theft and supply chain crime by strengthening criminal penalties, targeting money laundering, authorizing criminal forfeiture, and establishing a Department of Homeland Security coordination center to combat organized theft networks.
- PASSED 348 - 60
  - Republicans: 203 - 1
  - Democrats: 144 - 59
  - Independent: 1 - 0

H.R. 8365 (Biggs-AZ) – the Monitor Accountability Act: codifies the Department of Justice's recommendations to establish term limits on monitors, cap fees, allow for public feedback on the selection of monitors, and provide a public accounting of monitors’ activities to ensure court monitors do not abuse their positions.
- PASSED 219 - 204
  - Republicans: 213 - 0
  - Democrats: 5 - 204
  - Independent: 1 - 0

Restoring Safety in Our Nation's Capital

H.R. 5103 (McGuire) – the Make the District of Columbia Safe and Beautiful Act: establishes a commission to reduce crime in D.C. by providing necessary federal resources and strengthening the Metropolitan Police Department, and tasks the Department of the Interior with creating a program to clean and maintain popular sites in the nation’s capital—including monuments and parks—and to restore damaged federal properties.
- PASSED 218 - 206
  - Republicans: 212 - 0
  - Democrats: 5 – 206
  - Independent: 1 - 0

Growing America’s Economy ✅

Unleashing American Energy

H.R. 4690 (Langworthy) – the Reliable Federal Infrastructure Act: repeals Section 433 of EISA, which requires the Department of Energy to revise federal energy efficiency performance standards for new buildings and renovations to phase out the use of on-site, fossil fuel-generated electricity for impacted buildings by 2030.
- PASSED 215 - 202
  - Republicans: 209 - 1
  - Democrats: 5 - 201
  - Independent: 1 – 0

H.R. 5587 (Kim) – the Harnessing Energy At Thermal Sources (HEATS) Act: expedites geothermal energy production by exempting geothermal operators from federal drilling permit requirements, including NEPA, for wells on non-federal land where the United States holds an ownership interest of less than 50 percent of the subsurface geothermal estate.
- PASSED 231 - 186
  - Republicans: 208 - 0
  - Democrats: 22 - 186
  - Independent: 1 – 0

H.R. 6398 (Joyce-PA) – the Reducing and Eliminating Duplicative Environmental Regulations (RED Tape) Act: streamlines the review process for federal projects by eliminating the Environmental Protection Agency’s duplicative review requirement on projects already reviewed by other agencies and covered by the National Environmental Policy Act.
- PASSED 222 - 205
  - Republicans: 214 - 1
  - Democrats: 7 - 204
  - Independent: 1 - 0

H.R. 6409 (Pfluger) – the Foreign Emissions and Nonattainment Clarification for Economic Stability (FENCES) Act: amends the Clean Air Act to ensure that foreign natural or man-made emissions are not considered when determining states’ compliance with federal air quality standards, preventing U.S. states from facing penalties for emissions outside their control and allowing states to account for such emissions earlier in the regulatory process.
- PASSED 220 - 208
  - Republicans: 213 - 1
  - Democrats: 6 - 207
  - Independent: 1 - 0

Housing Affordability

H.R. 5184 (Houchin) – the Affordable HOMES Act: amends EISA to restore sole authority to HUD for setting energy efficiency standards for manufactured housing while allowing DOE to provide recommendations to HUD, streamlining the process for setting energy standards to help lower manufactured housing costs and increase housing affordability for hardworking Americans.
- PASSED 263 - 147
  - Republicans: 206 - 0
  - Democrats: 57 - 147

H.R. 6644 (Hill) – the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act: cuts government red tape to spur housing development and empower families — not institutional investors — to become homeowners.
- PASSED 358-32
  - Republicans: 166 - 32
  - Democrats: 191 - 0
  - Independent: 1 - 0

Protecting Consumer Choice

H.R. 4758 (Goldman-TX) – Homeowner Energy Freedom Act: repeals three provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act designed to subsidize the electrification movement and end the use of gas appliances, restricting consumer choice and raising the cost of home appliances.
- PASSED 210 - 199 - 1
  - Republicans: 210 – 1
  - Democrats: 0 – 198 - 1

H.R. 4626 (Allen) – Home Appliance Protection and Affordability Act: reforms and modernizes the EPCA to prevent future administrations from implementing unaffordable conservation standards that take away consumer choice, burden American families, and force Americans to use expensive appliances that do not perform as well.
- PASSED 217 - 190
  - Republicans: 210 – 0
  - Democrats: 7 – 190

H.R. 4593 (Fry) – SHOWER Act: defines “showerhead” using the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) standard, clarifies that each nozzle in a multi-head shower system is an individual showerhead that may operate at up to 2.5 GPM, and prevents future reinterpretations of the definition of a showerhead that would limit water flow and take away consumer choice, providing regulatory clarity and improving water flow for Americans by restoring Congress’ original intent.
- PASSED 226 - 197
  - Republicans: 215 - 0
  - Democrats: 11 - 197

Supporting Rural America

H.R. 7567 (Thompson-PA) – the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026: reauthorizes and reforms Department of Agriculture programs through FY2031 to build on pro-farmer provisions in the Working Families Tax Cuts, deliver certainty and regulatory clarity to farmers, and expand on investments in rural and agricultural communities, prioritizing responsible spending on agriculture without adding to the deficit.
- PASSED 224 - 200
  - Republicans: 209 - 3
  - Democrats: 14 - 197
  - Independent: 1 – 0

H. Res. 1182 (Fuller) – expresses support for rural communities across the United States; acknowledges their work to steward the environment, supply energy, produce food, and stabilize the economy; and recognizes the House’s efforts in the 119th Congress to support these communities.
- PASSED 220 - 196
  - Republicans: 212 - 0
  - Democrats: 7 – 196
  - Independent: 1 – 0

Cutting Taxes

H.J. Res 142 (Gill) – Exercises Congress’ authority to disapprove and prohibit the enactment of the D.C. Income and Franchise Tax Conformity and Revision Temporary Amendment Act of 2025, which decouples the D.C. tax code from specific WFTC tax-related provisions and denies local residents and businesses the tax relief they deserve.
- PASSED 215 - 210
  - Republicans: 215 - 0
  - Democrats: 0 - 210

H. Res. 1156 (Kelly-PA) – expresses support for tax policies that support working families and allow them to keep more of their hard-earned money, and recognizes the significant tax relief provided by the Working Families Tax Cuts for hardworking Americans.
- PASSED 219 - 207
  - Republicans: 215 - 0
  - Democrats: 3 - 207
  - Independent: 1 - 0

Commonsense Reforms

H.R. 139 (Buchanan) – the Sunshine Protection Act: ends an outdated practice by making daylight savings time permanent. This legislation will lower crime, save Americans time and money, reduce traffic accidents, and encourage the public to get outside.
- PASSED 308 - 117
  - Republicans: 193 - 22
  - Democrats: 114 - 95
  - Independent: 1 - 0

H.R. 2988 (Allen) – The Protecting Prudent Investment of Retirement Savings, introduced by Rep. Rick Allen, forces financial institutions to focus on maximizing returns in retirement plans instead of woke ESG factors by ensuring financial institutions base investment decisions on economic factors and complete information is provided to retirement investors
- PASSED 213 - 205
- Republicans: 210 - 0
- Democrats: 3 - 205

Restoring Trust in Government ✅

Election Integrity

S. 1383 (Roy) – SAVE America Act: amends the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 to require proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote in federal elections and an eligible photo identification document before voting in federal elections, shoring up our election integrity.
- PASSED 218 - 213
  - Republicans: 217 - 0
  - Democrats: 1 - 213

Cutting Red Tape

H.R. 6387 (Evans-CO) – the Fire Improvement and Reforming Exceptional Events (FIRE) Act: amends the Clean Air Act to make sure communities and manufacturers are not penalized for emissions from wildfires, prescribed burns, and other exceptional events when determining compliance with national air quality standards.
- PASSED 220 - 198
  - Republicans: 211 - 1
  - Democrats: 8 - 197
  - Independent: 1 - 0

H.R. 6955 (Hill) – the Main Street Capital Access Act: eases regulations on community banks and credit unions by tailoring regulatory thresholds, increasing transparency among regulators, making regulation more predictable for small banks, and promoting new bank formation.
- PASSED 270 - 155 - 1
  - Republicans: 213 - 1
  - Democrats: 56 - 154 - 1
  - Independent: 1 - 0

H.R. 8884 (Scott) – Removing Barriers to Work for Disabled Americans Act: allows the SSA to test different program rules to promote work for disabled Americans and improve work outcomes, so that every American can have an equal opportunity to excel in the workforce.
- PASSED 232 - 188
  - Republicans: 212-0
  - Democrats: 19-188
  - Independent: 1-0

Holding Government Accountable

H.R. 7008 (Steil) – Stop Insider Trading Act: prohibits Members of Congress, their spouses, and dependent children from purchasing securities from publicly traded companies, establish a required window to alert the House Clerk of any intended sale, as well as impose forfeiture of gains and fees for lawmakers’ noncompliance.
- PASSED 232 - 198
  - Republicans: 218 - 0
  - Democrats: 13 - 198
  - Independent: 1 - 0

H.R. 8464 (Comer) – the Stopping Fraudulent Payments Act: strengthens the federal payment system by building on oversight of state-administered programs, preventing federal agencies from making payments when an agency has deemed a program to be at an elevated risk for fraud or improper payments, and gives the U.S. Treasury new authority to return payment requests to agencies if they appear to be at risk for fraud.
- PASSED 218 - 200
  - Republicans: 211 - 0
  - Democrats: 6 - 200
  - Independent: 1 - 0

H.R. 8312 (Sessions) – the Fraud Prevention and Accountability Act: expands U.S. Treasury Fiscal Service’s financial and program integrity services and establishes a permanent Inspector General for Fraud, Accountability, and Recovery to provide sustained oversight during future national emergencies and maintain the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee’s (PRAC) anti-fraud data analytics tools.
- PASSED 240 - 181
  - Republicans: 211 - 0
  - Democrats: 28 - 181
  - Independent: 1 - 0

H.R. 7892 (Owens) – the No Aid for Ghost Students Act: tackles fraud in student aid by requiring the Secretary of Education to use a detection system to review, identify, and investigate suspicious FAFSA applications before any aid is distributed. The legislation also strengthens accountability by prioritizing audits of schools that recklessly distribute aid to unscreened or suspicious applicants.
- PASSED 249 - 172
  - Republicans: 212 - 0
  - Democrats: 36 - 172
  - Independent: 1 - 0

H. Res. 1335 (Fallon) – denounces the individuals who abuse and defraud taxpayer dollars and government entities and pledges that reforms which address fraud prevention will meaningfully improve the financial prosperity of the United States, most notably through up-front verification for eligibility before payments are issued.
- PASSED 235 - 177
  - Republicans: 211 - 0
  - Democrats: 23 - 177
  - Independent: 1 - 0

H.R. 7726 (Miller-IL) – the Stop Child Care Scams Act of 2026: requires HHS to withhold funds from states that repeatedly misuse child care dollars, increases state reporting requirements, codifies fraud standards, and imposes stricter penalties on both states and providers found to have misused funds under the CCDBG program.
- PASSED 217 - 207
  - Republicans: 212 - 0
  - Democrats: 4 - 207
  - Independent: 1 - 0

Protecting Sportsmen

H.R. 556 (Wittman) – the Protecting Access for Hunters and Anglers Act: stops the Fish and Wildlife Service, the Bureau of Land Management, and the Forest Service from banning lead ammunition or tackle on federal lands and waters for hunting and fishing.
- PASSED 215 - 202
  - Republicans: 208 - 1
  - Democrats: 7 - 201

Protecting American Values ✅

Protecting Constitutional Rights

H.R. 1181 (Moore-WV) – the Protecting Privacy in Purchases Act: prevents the use of firearm-specific merchant category codes, establishing guardrails to ensure financial institutions and credit card companies are not coerced into surveilling customers during constitutionally protected purchases.
- PASSED 221 - 201
  - Republicans: 215 - 1
  - Democrats: 5 - 200
  - Independent: 1 - 0

H.R. 1041 (Bost) – the Veterans 2nd Amendment Protection Act: bars Veterans’ Affairs from giving the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) sensitive information without due process to protect veterans with fiduciaries.
- PASSED 216 - 201
  - Republicans: 208 - 1
  - Democrats: 7 - 200
  - Independent: 1 - 0

Protecting Children

H.R. 7757 (Guthrie) – The Kids Internet and Digital Safety Act: protects children online by requiring age verification for adult websites, banning disappearing messages and targeted ads on children’s accounts, creating transparency with AI chatbots, and providing parental controls on kids’ accounts.
- PASSED 267-117
  - Republicans: 162-32
  - Democrats: 104 - 85
  - Independents: 1-0

H.R. 2616 (Walberg) – the Stopping Indoctrination and Protecting Kids Act: ensures parents remain central in their children’s lives by prohibiting federally funded elementary or middle schools from socially transitioning a child – such as by changing their name, pronouns, or bathroom access – without parental consent, and blocking federal funding from supporting gender ideology teachings in classrooms.
- PASSED 217 - 198
  - Republicans: 208 - 0
  - Democrats: 8 - 198
  - Independent: 1 - 0

Supporting Life & Families

H.R. 6359 (Hinson) – the Pregnant Students’ Rights Act: requires universities and higher education institutions to communicate and distribute information informing pregnant students of their rights, accommodations, and resources available to them.
- PASSED 217 - 211
  - Republicans: 216 - 0
  - Democrats: 1 - 211

H.R. 6945 (Fischbach) – the Supporting Pregnant and Parenting Women and Families Act: prevents the Secretary of Health and Human Services from restricting funding for pregnancy centers that serve new mothers and families that choose life.
- PASSED 215 - 209
  - Republicans: 214 - 0
  - Democrats: 1 - 209

Supporting Veterans

H.R. 6047 (Barrett) – the Sharri Briley and Eric Edmundson Veterans Benefit Expansion Act: increases disabled veterans’ monthly compensation by $833.33 – or $10,000 per year. Additionally, compensation for family members of deceased veterans would increase by 1.5% over the next two years. This would provide meaningful relief for over 500,000 veterans and their families for the first time in decades.
- PASSED 235 - 179
  - Republicans: 204 - 3
  - Democrats: 30 - 176
  - Independent: 1 - 0

Funding the MAGA Agenda ✅

Appropriations

H.R. 7006 (Cole) – the Financial Services and General Government and National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2026: makes appropriations through FY26 and supports efforts to bolster our national security, implement the President’s America First foreign policy agenda, boost our economy, protect our financial institutions, and restore fiscal responsibility to Washington spending.
- PASSED 341 - 79
  - Republicans: 188 - 22
  - Democrats: 153 - 57

H.R. 7147 (Cole) – Homeland Security and Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act, 2026: makes appropriations through FY26 and supports efforts to defend our homeland, bolster border protections, and enhance public safety.
- PASSED by Voice Vote

S. Amdts. To H.R. 7148 (Cole) – The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026: makes appropriations through FY26 and supports efforts to put Americans’ safety first, defend our borders, protect the homeland, support American readiness and competitiveness, implement the President’s America First foreign policy agenda, protect our financial institutions, enhance our transportation system, invest in health and education, and restore fiscal responsibility.
- PASSED 217 - 214
  - Republicans: 196 - 21
  - Democrats: 21 – 193

H.R. 8029 (Ciscomani) – the Pay Our Homeland Defenders Act: makes appropriations through FY26 and supports efforts to defend our homeland, bolster border protections, deter and respond to cyber threats, counter terrorism, and enhance public safety.
- PASSED 218 - 206
  - Republicans: 213 - 0
  - Democrats: 4 - 206

H.R. 6938 (Cole) – the Commerce, Justice, Science; Energy and Water Development; and Interior and Environment Appropriations Act, 2026: makes appropriations through FY26 and supports efforts to strengthen our energy security, secure our communities, reduce bureaucratic environmental red tape, advance critical programs, and implement President Trump’s America-First agenda.
- PASSED 397-28
  - Republicans: 191-22
  - Democrats: 206-6

H.R. 7744 (Cole) – the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2026, sponsored by Chairman Tom Cole, makes appropriations through FY26 and supports efforts to defend our homeland, bolster border protections, deter and respond to cyber threats, counter terrorism and enhance public safety.
- PASSED 221 - 209
  - Republicans: 217 - 0
  - Democrats: 4 - 209

H.R. 8469 (Carter-TX) – the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2027: provides FY27 appropriations to bolster our national defense and critical infrastructure, deliver on veteran care, and improve quality of life for military families.
- PASSED 400 - 15
  - Republicans: 210 - 0
  - Democrats: 189 - 15
  - Independent: 1 – 0

H.R. 8646 (Harris-MD) – the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agency Appropriations Act, 2027: protect Americans’ food and drug supply, prioritize Americans’ health, and equip America to compete against our adversaries, while upholding the GOP’s commitment to fiscal responsibility through regular order appropriations.
- PASSED 213 - 210
  - Republicans: 208 - 5
  - Democrats: 4 - 205
  - Independent: 1 - 0

H.R. 8595 (Diaz-Balart) – the National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2027: responsibly funds the America First agenda by safeguarding American national security while exercising fiscal discipline in the handling of taxpayer dollars.
- PASSED 217 - 209
  - Republicans: 215 - 1
  - Democrats: 1 - 208
  - Independent: 1 - 0

H.R. 9770 (Cole) – Continuing Appropriations, 2027: provides funding to crucial programs, including SNAP, WIC, TANF, and disaster relief through the end of the year. This bill will prevent the September 30, 2026 funding lapse while also allowing Congress to complete the appropriations process in regular order.
- PASSED 220 - 205
  - Republicans: 213 - 1
  - Democrats: 6 - 204
  - Independent: 1 - 0

H. Con. Res. 113 (Arrington) – will establish budget guidelines for fiscal year 2027. This critical step towards providing a full reconciliation bill sets guidelines for funding to support our farmers, invest in our troops, and secure American election integrity.
- PASSED 216 - 214
  - Republicans: 216 - 2
  - Democrats: 0 - 211
  - Independent: 0 - 1

###

The Hill: Scalise Embraces House GOP Elder Statesman Role Amid Leadership Shakeup Speculation

Fri, 24 Jul 2026 04:00:00 GMT

This week, The Hill’s Emily Brooks profiled House Majority Leader Steve Scalise’s (R-La.) storied and successful leadership of the House Republican conference as we go into the 2026 midterm elections. Read the full article below or click here.

The Hill: Scalise embraces House GOP’s elder statesman role amid leadership shake-up speculation
July 23, 2026
By Emily Brooks

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) has reached his peak elder statesman era in President Trump’s second term.

The No. 2 House Republican has harnessed policymaking lessons from Trump’s rocky first-term trifecta, providing institutional memory that is unique among the conference’s other top leaders who rose to their positions later. At the same time, Scalise has grown his relationship with Trump and enjoyed more cohesive working relationships with leadership colleagues.

That experience, plus his conservative bona fides and surviving a brush with death in the 2017 congressional baseball shooting, has positioned Scalise to be a top contender for the House GOP’s No. 1 slot should control of the House flip after the midterms. The always-on-message Scalise brushed off that prospect, though, as he expressed optimism about Republicans’ chances of defying history to keep control of the chamber.

In an interview with The Hill in his Capitol office last week, Scalise said he has a “unique skill set” with his conservative policy wonk roots and history of building trust with Trump. That has helped him most, he said, in pushing major legislation through a historically slim and complicated Republican majority.

“I think that goes back to being chairman of the Republican Study Committee,” Scalise said, referring to the largest policy-minded, traditionally conservative caucus in the House, which he led more than a decade ago before jumping to be GOP whip in 2014.

“You’ve got to really take it serious and focus on the details, because the details are what matter.”

As House Republicans last year crafted the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which extended tax cuts and pushed through partisan spending priorities, Scalise was the only member of House Republican leadership who was also in a top leadership position when Republicans crafted the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act reconciliation bill in Trump’s first term in 2017.

“I learned from the first Trump term that he was not in sync with all of leadership. Some were fighting President Trump,” Scalise said of Trump’s first term, noting the president’s rough relationship with then-Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), and saying Trump “didn’t have the closest relationship” with former Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.).
That dynamic, Scalise said, led to delays in advancing the party’s legislative agenda.

“We literally wasted the first six months with everybody being on different pages,” Scalise said.

Republican leaders didn’t want that to happen again if Trump won the 2024 election and started planning months ahead of time what they would do legislatively if the GOP won trifecta control of government. Scalise said he flew to Mar-a-Lago to talk to Trump about those ideas about six months before the election — and took his suggestions of what kind of policies to add, like the “no tax on tips” provision for qualified tipped workers.

“Our relationship has grown through the years to where we not only trust each other, but he also knows that I have a really good understanding of how the House works,” Scalise said of his relationship with Trump. “We’ve been able to bridge some gaps through some of that trust.”

Then, Scalise got into the policy weeds — and management of the committee leaders crafting the various aspects of what would eventually get put into the bill, even months ahead of the election.

“I had tasked the committees with very aggressive things to do, but I gave them the clear direction along the way,” Scalise said. “I gave everybody deadlines — you know, ‘Get the bills out by these times. These are your target numbers.’”

In the end, the House GOP was able to overcome infighting made more complicated by the slim
Republican majority and deliver the One Big Beautiful Bill Act — which Republicans and the White House have since worked to rebrand as the Working Families Tax Cuts — to Trump’s desk by July 4 last year.

The dynamics in the House GOP have shifted dramatically in Scalise’s nearly two decades in Congress. Narrow margins and emboldened hard-liners have led to out-in-the-open rebellions on legislative items big and small on a near-weekly basis.

Scalise said the aim of the leadership team now is to bring different factions of the conference together to help them understand each other’s perspective.

“They think leadership’s stopping them from getting it, when it’s really other colleagues of theirs that won’t vote for that stuff,” Scalise said. “I said, well, don’t make it be leadership versus everybody else. Have them in the room, sitting across the table from their own colleagues.”

“You can hash out a lot of problems in an hour-and-a-half, two-hour meeting of some yelling and
screaming,” Scalise said.

He doesn’t do that alone. Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has also embraced those kinds of meetings, which he dubs “intense fellowship.”

“The Speaker’s got incredible patience. He and I have a great relationship. We’ve known each other for 30 years,” Scalise said. “I do think that helps.”

It’s no secret on Capitol Hill that Scalise had a complicated relationship with Johnson’s predecessor, former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), even though they both publicly downplayed the tension. With fellow Louisianan Johnson at the helm, Scalise comes across as more empowered than in the past, though the majority leader declined to characterize it that way.

“I’m not going to compare leadership teams. I’m just going to talk about what we’re doing,” Scalise said.

“I’ve been in majorities where we had 35-seat majorities where we didn’t get as much done.”

Scalise said leaders now try to emphasize to members that they “can do big things,” but to do so, “we’re going to have to come together and work through our differences.”

Despite Johnson’s odds-defying performance as Speaker given the slim majority and rebel culture, Republicans widely assume a midterm loss would result in the Speaker exiting from leadership altogether. Johnson recently told The Wall Street Journal he wants to stay in the post if Republicans win but demurred when asked about the possibility of Republicans being relegated to the minority.

Scalise, as the current No. 2 Republican, is an obvious contender to take the No. 1 slot if Johnson departs. But members have also speculated about whether House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) would seek the job, and they suspect House Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) could make an insurgent bid — though none of them have confirmed that interest. All three leaders at various points sought to replace McCarthy as Speaker when he was ousted three years ago.

Scalise did not directly answer when asked if he would seek to be minority leader. He said people are always asking him: “Are you going to run against this guy? Are you going to run for that thing?”

“As long as I do this job well, I don’t worry about the next job, and I’ve never done that,” Scalise said. “I know some people walk in the building thinking they’re going to be president of the United States. That’s never been the approach I’ve had.”

His short-lived bid for Speaker after McCarthy’s ouster was complicated by uncertainty about whether he would be up for the job health-wise.

Scalise, 60, was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a blood cancer, in August 2023. The cancer was described by his office as “very treatable,” but some Republicans were hesitant to hand him the high-stress, travel-intensive job just a few months later.

He announced in February 2024 that his cancer was in “complete remission” and has traveled
extensively on the campaign trail since. Still, scrutiny of high-powered lawmakers’ health issues has increased in the last few years, with instances like former President Biden being pushed to end his reelection bid after a disastrous debate performance; Rep. Tom Kean Jr. (R-N.J.) refusing to explain his health-related absence for months; and McConnell waiting weeks to fully explain the circumstances of his hospital stay.

But Scalise’s cancer battle, combined with his emotional and legendary return after surviving the
congressional baseball shooting, also displays personal resilience that has endeared him to the rest of the GOP.

Through tough votes and turbulent internal politics in the Republican Party, Scalise has been a
disciplined messenger for Republicans, seemingly incapable of putting his foot in his mouth.

“I know what I need to do,” Scalise said about his message discipline. “We have got a tough conference, a complicated conference, but you know, you got to work with everybody. But you also have to be candid with him and go, ‘OK, it’s time. Now it’s time to get on the train.’”

It helps, he said, that Trump is engaged in the process. The president will ask Scalise to give him names of members to call to get on board — and while some might see the attention from Trump as a treat, Scalise insisted: “That’s not a call you want to have.”

“He’s our best closer for a reason — because he also knows what he wants to do, and we’re all helping each other achieve the things we ran on,” Scalise said of Trump.

###

Committee Cliff Notes: Week of July 20, 2026

Fri, 24 Jul 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Here’s a recap of key moments from House Republican committees during the week:

Agriculture

On Tuesday, July 21, the Subcommittee on Commodity Markets, Digital Assets, and Rural Development held a hearing called "Examining Customer Protections and Market Integrity in Sports Event Prediction Markets," featuring testimony from Robert A. Schwartz of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius and former CFTC General Counsel, David Z. Bean of the Indian Gaming Association, Christopher Cylke of the American Gaming Association, Carl Kennedy of Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP, and Asaf Meir of Solidus Labs.

As sports event prediction markets continue to grow rapidly, the hearing examined how customer protection and market integrity requirements under the Commodity Exchange Actapply to these markets as the CFTC considers updates to its oversight framework.

On Wednesday, July 22, the Subcommittee on Forestry and Horticulture held a hearing called "For the Purpose of Receiving Testimony from Chief Tom Schultz, U.S. Forest Service," during which committee members heard testimony from U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz on the agency’s priorities, organizational restructuring, wildfire preparedness and response, forest health, timber management, state partnerships, and other issues affecting the National Forest System and rural communities.

The hearing comes as the Forest Service is implementing an agency reorganization, while Congress continues to consider forestry and wildfire resilience provisions as part of the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026.

Appropriations

Having completed committee action on all twelve Fiscal Year 2027 appropriations bills before the end of June, Appropriators turned their attention to an issue that too often overshadows the funding process: government shutdowns. On Wednesday, July 22, the House Appropriations Committee, led by Chairman Cole, held a rare full committee hearing, "Funding Lapses: Analyzing Shutdown Reform," to evaluate legislative proposals intended to reduce lapses, consider their implications, and discuss ways to promote a more stable process. Protecting the American people from the consequences of needless, partisan shutdowns should be an objective shared by all lawmakers.

Education & Workforce

On Tuesday, July 21, the Committee on Education and Workforce held a full committee markup on the following measures:

H.R. 8781, the Title IX Clarification Act of 2026 (Arrington)
H.R. 4986, the Parents Opt-in Protection Act (Miller)
H.R. 8747, the K-12 AI Literacy and Readiness Act of 2026 (Fine)
H.R. 8183, the Modernizing Access to Talents, Credentials, and Hiring (MATCH) Act of 2026 (Owens)
H.R. 9273, the Fit Future Act (Mackenzie)
H.R. 8660, the Valuing Employee Stock Today Act (Mackenzie)
H.R. 8347, the Reinforcing Underserved, Rural, and Local (RURAL) Healthcare Act (Owens)
H.R. 6213, the Heat Workforce Standards Act of 2025 (Messmer)
H.R. 8775, the Ending Predator Access to Union Power Act (Wilson)
H.R. 5267, the American Franchise Act (Hern)

These bills aim to protect women and girls, safeguard the rights of students and parents, prepare students and educators to use AI safely and effectively in the classroom, encourage healthy habits among children, strengthen the American workforce, support employers and entrepreneurs, prevent harmful regulations, and hold union leaders accountable.

On Wednesday, July 22, the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections held a hearing called "Broken Trust: How the Biden-Harris DOL Leaked Confidential Information." Today's hearing examined serious failures at the Biden-Harris Department of Labor (DOL) uncovered through the Committee's oversight. The Inspector General found the Biden-Harris DOL shared confidential investigative information with outside lawyers to skew court cases, couldn't keep track of what was shared or with whom, and lacked basic safeguards to prevent conflicts of interest. Americans deserve a government that enforces the law fairly—not one that gives special interests an unfair advantage.

On Friday, July 24, the Committee on Education and Workforce held a full committee field hearing called "Building an AI-Ready America: How AI Is Creating Opportunities Across America's Workforce."

Energy & Commerce

On Monday, July 20 and Tuesday, July 21, the Committee on Energy and Commerce held a full committee markup on 29 measures. The Committee marked up 29 bills to lower energy costs, cut red tape, protect communities from illicit drug threats, and empowering patients by expanding access to clear pricing data. This markup included the Ratepayer Protection Act, which ensures that working families don’t pay the price for increased energy loads.

On Wednesday, July 22, the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade held a hearing called "Legislative Proposals to Strengthen Consumer Protection in a Changing Marketplace." This hearing examined a slate of consumer product and service protection bills. This legislation will help strengthen transparency and bolster enforcement against foreign companies breaking our consumer protection laws.

On Wednesday, July 22, the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology held a legislative hearing called "Protecting Communications Networks and Improving Connectivity" on the following measures:

H.R. 9129, the GUARD Act (Moolenaar)
H.R. 1027, the QUIET Act (Sorensen)
H.R. 2805, the PLAN for Broadband Act (Walberg)
H.R. 4950, the Data BRIDGE Act (Houchin)
H.R. 6152, the Foreign Robocall Elimination Act (McDowell)
H.R. 7294, the AI for Secure Networks Act (Menendez)

Americans received an estimated 4.3 billion robocalls last month alone. This week, Chairman Hudson lead a C&T hearing examining legislation that will combat illegal robocalls, protect communications networks from foreign adversaries, and improve connectivity nationwide.

Financial Services

On Tuesday, July 21, the Subcommittee on National Security, Illicit Finance, and International Financial Institutions held a hearing called "Oversight of the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network." The subcommittee, led by Chairman Warren Davidson (OH-08), examined efforts to strengthen the national anti-money laundering framework, improve FinCEN’s effectiveness, and combat illicit finance while reducing unnecessary regulatory burdens.

On Tuesday, July 21, the Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance held a hearing called "Oversight of the Federal Home Loan Bank System." The subcommittee, led by Chairman Mike Flood (NE-01), explored the structure, operations, and mission of the Federal Home Loan Bank System.

On Wednesday, July 22, the Committee hosted a fireside chat with full Committee Chairman French Hill (AR-02) and Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee Chairman Dan Meuser (PA-09) on the Committee’s work to address the rise of financial fraud and scams and strengthen protections for American consumers. The Committee also released a staff report titled: “Fighting Back: A Policy Framework for Combating the Rise of Financial Fraud & Scams.”

Foreign Affairs

On Tuesday, July 21, the Committee on Foreign Affairs held a full committee hearing called "Confronting Haiti’s Terrorist Gangs: The Gang Suppression Force and the Path Ahead." The lawmakers examined the lessons learned from the U.N. Multinational Security Support mission aand how those lessons have been applied to the current Gang Suppression Force efforts to take the fight to the gangs that control an estimated 90% of Port-au-Prince.

On Wednesday, July 22, the Committee on Foreign Affairs held a full committee hearing called "United Nations Accountability and Reform: Advancing an America First Foreign Policy Through Strategic Diplomacy and Burden Sharing." During his opening remarks, Chairman Mast underscored the dire need for reform at the U.N. and ensuring our foreign policy puts America First.

On Wednesday, July 22, the Middle East and North Africa Subcommittee held a hearing called "Building a New Regional Security Architecture: The Next Phase of the Abraham Accords." The lawmakers examined the success of the Abraham Accords in building lasting peace and prosperity to the Middle East, and the role Congress must play in building upon its success.

On Wednesday, July 22, the East Asia and Pacific Subcommittee held a hearing called "Charting a New Course: Countering China's Dominance in Global Shipbuilding." The lawmakers examined China’s control over global commercial shipbuilding capacity, and the imperative that America work with its partners and allies to counter China’s dominance.

House Administration

On Tuesday, July 21, the Subcommittee on Modernization and Innovation held a hearing called “Modernizing Public Access to Legislative Data and Information.”

On Wednesday, July 22, the Committee on House Administration held a full committee hearing called “Oversight of the Smithsonian: Radical Revisionism at the National Museum of American History.”

Intelligence

On Monday, July 20, the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence held a closed full committee markup on the following measure:

H.R. 9624, the Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2027 (Crawford)

On Tuesday, July 21, the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence held a full committee hearing called "25 Years After 9/11: Confronting the Next Generation of Threats."

Judiciary

On Tuesday, July 21, the Judiciary Committee held a full committee markup on the following measure:

H.R. 9773, the Permanent Trump Secure Border Act Bill (Roy)

On Wednesday, July 22, the Subcommittee on Oversight held a hearing called "False Narratives Surrounding Conditions at the Delaney Hall ICE Detention Center."

Natural Resources

On Tuesday, July 21, the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources held a legislative hearing on the following measures:

H.R. 8003, the Expanding the Fast Track Act of 2026 (Deluzio)
H.R. 9640, the Earth MRI Reauthorization Act of 2026 (Wittman)
H.R. 9646, the Quantum-Enhanced Critical Minerals Mapping Act of 2026 (Hurd)

The hearing examined legislation to modernize America's geologic mapping capabilities, expand the use of advanced sensing and quantum technologies and strengthen domestic critical mineral development by improving the identification of the nation's mineral resources.

On Tuesday, July 21, the Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries held a legislative hearing on the following measures:

H.R. 7332, the Whale CHARTS Act of 2026 (Matsui)
H.R. 7466, the SAFE CATTLE Act (Jackson)
H.R. 8876, the Aquatic Invasive Species Control and Prevention Act of 2026 (Walberg)
H.R. 9621, the Northwest Endangered Salmon Predation Prevention Act of 2026 (Baumgartner)

The hearing examined Republican legislation to strengthen species recovery efforts, improve coordination to combat aquatic invasive species and New World Screwworm and support science-based wildlife management for America's fisheries, livestock and food supply.

On Wednesday, July 22, the Committee on Natural Resources held a full committee markup on the following measures:

H.R. 309, the National Law Enforcement Officers Remembrance, Support and Community Outreach Act (Nehls)
H.R. 1693, To redesignate the National Historic Trails Interpretive Center in Casper, Wyoming, as the “Barbara L. Cubin National Historic Trails Interpretive Center" (Hageman)
H.R. 4219, the National Wildlife Refuge System Invasive Species Strike Team Act of 2025 (Case)
H.R. 4931, the National Park System Long-Term Lease Investment Act (Murphy)
H.R. 5063, the Safe Beaches, Safe Swimmers Act (Kiggans)
H.R. 6021, the Archie Cavanaugh Migratory Bird Treaty Amendment Act (Begich)
H.R. 8121, To designate the Christiansted Bandstand at the Christiansted National Historic Site, St. Croix, Virgin Islands, as the “Peter G. Thurland, Sr., Bandstand" (Plaskett)
H.R. 8454, To provide for the transfer of administrative jurisdiction over certain Federal land in the State of California, and for other purposes (McClintock)

The Committee advanced legislation to support law enforcement officers, improve visitor experiences across the National Park System, ensure adequate lifeguard staffing at federal beaches, honor Alaska Native traditions and improve public land management in California.

Oversight and Government Reform

On Tuesday, July 21, the Subcommittee on Delivering on Government Efficiency held a hearing called "Rewriting American History: Examining the Smithsonian’s Efforts to Reshape the Past." During the hearing, members examined efforts of the National Museum of American History (NMAH) and the broader Smithsonian Institution to promote divisive, inappropriate, and factually inaccurate programming on U.S. history. Members criticized the use of the taxpayer-funded NMAH as a tool to promote a politicized agenda concerning issues of race, class, gender and sexuality. This hearing follows a reportreleased by the White House Domestic Policy Council on July 4, 2026, revealing the NMAH’s extensive left-wing biases that significantly alter and disparage United States history.

On Wednesday, July 22, the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform held a full committee markup and advanced legislation to lower prescription drug costs, protect patients and local independent pharmacies from predatory pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) practices, strengthen congressional oversight of Washington, D.C.’s taxing authority, and improve the efficiency of federal government operations. Chairman Comer published an op-ed in the Washington Examiner lauding the bipartisan Pharmacists Fight Back Act (H.R. 6610) to hold PBMs accountable for raising prescription drug prices to unaffordable levels for many Americans.

On Wednesday, July 22, the Task Force on Defending Constitutional Rights and Exposing Institutional Abuses held a hearing called "The Future of DEI in Law School Accreditation and the Legal Profession." During the hearing, members analyzed how the American Bar Association (ABA) has weaponized its accreditation authority to promote DEI policies that are contrary to federal civil rights law and the negative consequences in the legal profession that result from these harmful policies. Members also heard from witnesses the need for Congress to act to ensure permanent elimination of DEI policies within American institutions, including the legal profession and academy.

Rules

On Monday, July 20, the Committee on Rules met on the following measures:

H.R. 7008, the Stop Insider Trading Act (Steil)
H.R. 6955, the Main Street Capital Access Act (Hill)
H. Con. Res. 113, Establishing the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2027 and setting forth the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2028 through 2036 (Arrington)
H.R. 9770, the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2027 (Cole)
H.R. 8800, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2027 [Rule Markup Only] (Rogers)
H.R. 8884, the Removing Barriers to Work for Disabled Americans Act [Rule Markup Only] (Scott)

This week the Committee took testimony on measures designed to restore trust in Congress, empower community banks, safeguard our troops and elections, and take a lapse in appropriations off the table for Democrats. Rules Republicans discussed the extent to which members’ lucrative stock trades can erode faith in this institution. The discussion also covered Dodd-Frank’s shortcomings and how community lenders were severely disadvantaged compared to national banks. Rules Republicans stressed the importance of acting amidst Democrat obstruction—especially to support our troops in conflict and defend our elections from foreign and illegal influence. Finally, members outlined the recent history of woefully irresponsible Democrat shutdowns and detailed how everyday Americans neither need nor deserve another intentional appropriations lapse in the name of radical, left-leaning politics.

Science, Space, and Technology

On Tuesday, July 21, the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology held a full committee markup on the following measures:

H.R. 3168, the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program Reauthorization Act of 2025 (Valadao)
H.R. 8437, the Geo POWER Act (Begich)
H.R. 9326, the USA Act (Webster)
H.R. 8981, Standards and Calibration for American Leadership in Engineering Biology Act (McClain Delaney)

These four bipartisan bills encompass the consistent focus of the Science, Space, and Technology Committee—reducing risk, expanding opportunity, and keeping America prepared for whatever comes next.

On Wednesday, July 22, the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology held a full committee hearing called "Unleashing the Golden Age of Science: Examining the Priorities of the FY2027 Research and Technology Enterprise." The purpose of the hearing was to assess the FY27 budget request to Congress to support the nation’s science enterprise.

Select Committee on China

On Monday, July 20, Chairman John Moolenaar and Senators John Cornyn and Tom Cotton, the Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, introduced H.R.9789 - Stop PRC Economic Espionage Act of 2026. This bill amends current law to make it harder for Chinese entities to commit economic espionage, and easier for the U.S. justice system to prosecute them for it.

On Wednesday, July 22, the House-passed NDAA included provisions of H.R.8623 - Guarding the U.S. Against Adversarial Robotics Dominance (GUARD) Act, Chairman Moolenaar’s bill to require the Pentagon to begin the process of determining whether Chinese robots should be banned nationwide. The GUARD Act was also included in Wednesday’s legislative hearing in the House Energy & Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on Communication and Technology. Additionally on Wednesday, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation passed the Senate version of Chairman Moolenaar’s bipartisan H.R.8730 - Connected Vehicle Security Act of 2026, which would prohibit the importation, manufacture, and sale of connected vehicles, software, and hardware linked to China.

Small Business

On Wednesday, July 22, the Committee on Small Business held a full committee hearing called "Oversight of SBA’s Office of Entrepreneurial Development." The purpose of this hearing was to conduct oversight of the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Office of Entrepreneurial Development (OED) and its efforts to help small businesses start, grow, and compete. The hearing also provided Members an opportunity to review reforms and operational changes implemented under the Trump Administration and assess their impact on the delivery of entrepreneurial assistance.

Ways and Means

On Wednesday, July 22, the Committee on Ways and Means held a full committee markupon the following measures:

H.R. 9772, the Foreign Funding Transparency Act (Schweikert)
H.R. 9771, the Stopping Foreign Influence in Elections Act of 2026 (Malliotakis)
H.R. 9721, the Fiscal Sponsorship Transparency Act of 2026 (Smucker)
H.R. 9722, the Fair Treatment of Religious Organizations Act of 2026 (Moore)

The Committee advanced legislation to increase transparency in America’s tax-exempt sector, hold bad actors accountable, prevent foreign influence in American politics and public discourse, and protect religious freedom.

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The Leader's Floor Lookout: Thursday, July 23, 2026

Thu, 23 Jul 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Here’s what to watch for on the House Floor today:

Empowering Americans with Disabilities in the Workforce

Millions of Americans have achieved the American Dream through the opportunity to work, build careers, and provide for their families. However, many Americans with disabilities face unnecessary barriers to employment because of outdated policies and unclear eligibility rules.

Nearly 60 percent of Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) beneficiaries say they want and believe they are able to work within the next two to five years. Yet fewer than one percent of SSDI beneficiaries leave the program each year.

Americans with disabilities who want to work should have every opportunity to do so. That is why, today, House Republicans are advancing the Removing Barriers to Work for Disabled Americans Act. The bill reauthorizes a provision of the Social Security Actallowing the Social Security Administration (SSA) to conduct demonstration projects that test alternative policies to help SSDI beneficiaries who are able to work reenter the workforce. It also prohibits the SSA from conducting demonstration projects that would reduce a participant's overall income.

Rep. Austin Scott’s measure, H.R. 8884, the Removing Barriers to Work for Disabled Americans Act, will allow the SSA to test different program rules to promote work for disabled Americans and improve work outcomes, so that every American can have an equal opportunity to excel in the workforce.

House Republicans are committed to expanding opportunities for all Americans – including disabled Americans.

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The Republican Recap: Week of July 20, 2026

Thu, 23 Jul 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Here's a recap of what Republicans achieved on the House floor this week:

Replenishing Funding for Vital National Security Sectors ✅

Supporting our farmers, strengthening our military, and protecting the integrity of our elections are essential to keeping America safe, secure, and prosperous. Yet time and again, Democrats have been willing to hold these priorities hostage to advance their radical left agenda. Especially with Democrats’ opposition to policies as common sense as showing your ID to vote, it is clear the Democrat party is out of touch with the American people.

House Republicans are committed to ensuring these critical priorities receive the resources they need. That's why we advanced a budget resolution to responsibly fund these programs and keep America strong.

This budget resolution supports America's farmers so our nation remains food secure and never depends on foreign countries to feed our people. It also provides critical funding for our military, ensuring our servicemembers have the resources and pay they deserve to defend our nation. Finally, it strengthens election security by incorporating vital components of the SAVE America Act, including showing ID and proof of citizenship to vote. Every American deserves elections they can feel confident in, and commonsense policies like voter ID are a vital way to reestablish election integrity.

Chairman Jodey Arrington’s resolution, H. Con. Res 113, will establish budget guidelines for fiscal year 2027. This critical step towards providing a full reconciliation bill sets guidelines for funding to support our farmers, invest in our troops, and secure American election integrity.

"I am humbled by the steadfast unity and unwavering determination from House Republicans to break the Democrat obstruction so we can provide emergency support for our troops, safeguard the integrity of our elections, and continue delivering on the priorities of the American people," said Chairman Jodey Arrington. "I urge the Senate to seize this fateful moment to SAVE and Protect America.”

What Members Said:

Rep. Adrian Smith applauded how this resolution provides important framework to protecting American security.

Rep. Jeff Crank highlighted the farmers, troops, and voter ID measures that will benefit by House Republicans unlocking the reconciliation 3.0 package.

Preventing Democrats’ Partisan Shutdown ✅

Last fall, congressional Democrats triggered the longest full government shutdown in American history by blocking Republican funding efforts and holding the American people hostage to their radical agenda and obsession with opposing President Trump.

Republicans reopened the government by passing a continuing resolution and remain committed to ensuring Americans never again endure a Democrat-imposed shutdown. This week, nearly every Democrat once again chose partisan pandering over responsible governing.

House Republicans advanced a continuing resolution this week to keep the government open, ensure hardworking Americans continue receiving their paychecks through the end of the year, and prevent another round of needless political brinkmanship.

H.R. 9770, the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2027, sponsored by Chairman Tom Cole, provides funding to crucial programs, including SNAP, WIC, TANF, and disaster relief through the end of the year. This bill will prevent the September 30, 2026 funding lapse while also allowing Congress to complete the appropriations process in regular order.

"Too many members in Congress mistake a cliff's edge for political leverage – and this bill refuses to reward those who depend on obstruction and chaos. Instead, it puts certainty and stability for the nation first. There is no virtue in waiting until every option has disappeared before deciding to act," said Chairman Tom Cole. "This legislation protects our national security, preserves critical services, and removes any party from seeking to manufacture shutdown leverage before elections. There are no poison pills, no political gimmicks, and no partisan riders – just a clean, straightforward stopgap. So, today leaves no question where House Republicans stand – we chose responsibility over crisis, leadership over politics, and governing over gamesmanship. That is what Article I demands, and it is exactly what the American people expect.”

What Members Said:

Rep. August Pfluger underscored how nearly all Democrats abdicated their duty to responsibly govern our country.

Chairman Tim Walberg highlighted how this bill is vital for delivering paychecks to some of the hardest working Americans.

Investing in the Arsenal of Freedom ✅

America's military is unmatched, but preserving that strength requires continued investment and a commitment to staying ahead of emerging threats. House Republicans are committed to ensuring our Armed Forces remain the most capable and lethal fighting force in the world.

This week, House Republicans passed the FY27 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to advance President Trump's Peace Through Strength agenda. The bill makes critical investments in our military by supporting President Trump's request for a 5 to 7 percent pay raise for every service member, recognizing their service and sacrifice.

The legislation also strengthens our defense industrial base, secures critical supply chains, eliminates waste, fraud, and abuse, expands domestic defense production, and creates new opportunities for innovators and manufacturers to reinforce the Arsenal of Freedom.

Chairman Mike Rogers’ bill, H.R. 8800, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2027, authorizes appropriations to expand U.S. defense production capacity, modernize our military, and ensure America’s armed forces remain the most lethal, ready, and robust in the world, all while safeguarding taxpayer dollars.

“Our national security depends on a ready, capable, and well-equipped fighting force backed by a robust and innovative defense industrial base. The FY27 NDAA delivers that,” Rogers said. This is a strong bill that builds on President Trump’s Peace Through Strength agenda, supports servicemembers and military families, and gives our warfighters the resources they need to fight and win. Peace Through Strength begins long before the battlefield—it is forged in America’s factories, depots, and shipyards,” said Chairman Mike Rogers. "After years of underinvestment, the FY27 NDAA revitalizes America’s defense industrial base and gives our military the capacity to deter our adversaries and carry out President Trump’s Peace Through Strength Agenda."

What Members Said:

Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart celebrated how this bill enforces President Trump’s Peace Through Strength agenda.

Rep. Zach Nunn highlighted how this bill will equip our brave men and women in uniform with the tools they need.

Banning Congressional Stock Trading ✅

Members of Congress are elected to serve their constituents and uphold their office as a public trust. Because Members have access to sensitive, nonpublic information as part of their official duties, many Americans believe stronger safeguards are needed to help reinforce confidence in Congress.

House Republicans approved legislation this week to prohibit Members of Congress from trading individual stocks while serving in office. This commonsense reform is designed to help reassure the American people that their elected representatives are focused on serving the public interest and maintaining the integrity of the institution.

Chairman Brian Steil’s bill, H.R. 7008, the Stop Insider Trading Act, would prohibit Members of Congress, their spouses, and dependent children from purchasing securities from publicly traded companies, establish a required window to alert the House Clerk of any intended sale, as well as impose forfeiture of gains and fees for lawmakers’ noncompliance.

“The Stop Insider Trading Act is a major step forward for ethics reform on Capitol Hill. It ensures no lawmaker can profit off of insider information,” said Chairman Brian Steil. “I urge my Senate colleagues to quickly take it up and send it to President Trump’s desk.”

What Members Said:

Rep. Scott Perry reiterated that Americans deserve leaders in Congress who are here to serve, not grow their wealth.

Rep. Young Kim spoke about how this commonsense measure will help restore trust in Congress.

Empowering Main Street and Local Economies ✅

Main Street businesses are vital to local economies and help millions achieve the American Dream. However, the community banks and credit unions that serve Main Street have suffered from overregulation after the 2008 financial crisis that subjected them to many of the same regulatory standards as large financial institutions. As a result, many community banks have closed, making it increasingly difficult for small businesses to access capital.

Community banks should not be subject to the same regulatory framework as Wall Street's largest financial institutions. Because of this, House Republicans passed legislation this week to modernize the one-size-fits-all regulatory system, reduce unnecessary burdens on community banks, and make it easier to establish new local financial institutions in underserved communities.

Chairman French Hill’s bill, H.R. 6955, the Main Street Capital Access Act, eases regulations on community banks and credit unions by tailoring regulatory thresholds, increasing transparency among regulators, making regulation more predictable for small banks, and promoting new bank formation.

"As a former community banker, I've seen firsthand how community banks drive Main Street's growth. For decades, Washington has forced these institutions to operate under rules built for the largest, most systemically important banks, stifling local lending and accelerating industry consolidation. This bill fixes that,” said Chairman French Hill. "It spurs the formation of new banks, restores common-sense tailoring to bank regulation, and removes barriers that have limited lending in communities across the country. Expanding access to capital means entrepreneurs can invest, businesses can grow, and families can build wealth. I want to thank Subcommittee Chairman Andy Barr for his partnership on this bill, and I look forward to the Senate taking up this important legislation.”

What Members Said:

Rep. Marlin Stutzman celebrated how this measure will remove restrictive regulations so small banks can serve the communities who need them.

Rep. Michelle Fischbach applauded how this measure will help rural communities by tailoring regulations for banks that serve smaller communities.

Empowering Americans with Disabilities in the Workforce ✅

Millions of Americans have achieved the American Dream through the opportunity to work, build careers, and provide for their families. However, many Americans with disabilities face unnecessary barriers to employment because of outdated policies and unclear eligibility rules.

Nearly 60 percent of Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) beneficiaries say they want and believe they are able to work within the next two to five years. Yet fewer than one percent of SSDI beneficiaries leave the program each year.

Americans with disabilities who want to work should have every opportunity to do so. That is why House Republicans advanced the Removing Barriers to Work for Disabled Americans Act. The bill reauthorizes a provision of the Social Security Act allowing the Social Security Administration (SSA) to conduct demonstration projects that test alternative policies to help SSDI beneficiaries who are able to work reenter the workforce. It also prohibits the SSA from conducting demonstration projects that would reduce a participant's overall income.

Rep. Austin Scott’s measure, H.R. 8884, the Removing Barriers to Work for Disabled Americans Act, will allow the SSA to test different program rules to promote work for disabled Americans and improve work outcomes, so that every American can have an equal opportunity to excel in the workforce.

“The Removing Barriers to Work for Disabled Americans Act is about helping disabled Americans pursue opportunities without the fear of losing the benefits that help them live with dignity," said Rep. Austin Scott. "This bill would allow the Social Security Administration to pursue scoped demonstration programs while ensuring voluntary participants' overall income is not reduced, giving disabled Americans the chance to build the future they want."

What Members Said:

Rep. Austin Scott highlighted how this bill provides an on-ramp for disabled Americans to successfully return to work.

Chairman Jason Smith reaffirmed that Americans who want to work should have accessible avenues to employment.

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