Leadership Steve Scalise RSS Articles

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 However, many Americans with disabilities face unnecessary barriers to employment because of outdated policies and unclear eligibility rules.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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The Leader's Floor Lookout: Wednesday, July 22, 2026

Wed, 22 Jul 2026 04:00:00 GMT

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

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 today we'll bring forward 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.

House Republicans will always support the hardworking Americans who contribute to our national security.

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.

Today, House Republicans are bringing forward 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.

House Republicans will always stand with the brave men and women who defend our country by providing the resources, infrastructure, and support they need to keep America safe.

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.

The 2012 STOCK Act established important protections against insider trading, but many believe additional steps can further strengthen transparency, accountability, and public trust.

House Republicans are taking action by bringing forward legislation today 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.

House Republicans believe public service should always come before personal financial gain. Congress should be focused on serving the American people, not profiting from stock trades.

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Scalise: House Republicans Are Delivering Results While Democrats Continue to Obstruct

Wed, 22 Jul 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Today on the House floor, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) contrasted House Republicans' record of lowering costs, strengthening border security, combatting fraud, and advancing election integrity with Democrats' continued opposition to those priorities. Leader Scalise also pointed to recent reports that New Jersey identified more than 6,600 noncitizens on its voter rolls as evidence of the need for stronger election integrity measures.

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

Highlights from Leader Scalise’s remarks:

“Over and over again, we see nothing but obstruction from Democrats. It's sad to say. It's sad to see. The American people are watching a party that has become a rudderless ship running off the left edge, socialists taking over. Watching what is going on to that other party, look at some of the things that we've been able to do even with their obstruction. Working to produce more energy in America so we can lower costs for American families while every Democrat voted no. Working to lower tax rates for working families. Yes, no tax on overtime, a benefit that has helped over 30 million Americans. These aren't the millionaires and the billionaires that Democrats go fight for every day. These are hardworking families making under $100,000 a year, many of them shift workers, law enforcement officers.

“Maybe they voted against that bill because they want to defund the police, not help police officers and firefighters have a little bit more money in their pocket with no tax on overtime, no tax on tips. Somebody making $32,000 a year on average has thousands more in their pocket now because of the work we did. And how did we pay for it, Mr. Chairman? We paid for it by putting anti-fraud measures in that bill. Yes, going after theft of American taxpayer dollars. And not just small-time folks. You've got foreign countries operating with criminal organizations in states like Minnesota. We saw it. We documented it... President Trump was able to go out and recoup not millions, but billions and tens of billions of dollars that we were able to take out of the hands of people stealing your money. And we, we put it in the pockets of hardworking families.

"Overtime workers, waiters, waitresses, senior citizens who now have a tax credit. All of that we paid for with money that was being stolen. And every step of the way, Democrats opposed it. They would rather theft of your tax dollars go to fraudsters than hardworking families have their money back. So their obstruction is nothing new, Mr. Chairman.

…

“And then we get to today where we say, shouldn't we make sure our men and women in uniform have the tools they need to do their job safely? Shouldn't we make sure that our farmers get the relief they need so we can keep working to lower food costs? And oh, by the way, can't we ensure the integrity of the American vote? Basic things that most Americans understand. Democrats in Washington don't.

…

“They get up here and they start voting against the wishes of the American people over and over and over again. And why? Not just to defend fraudsters. If you know that requiring a picture ID, just something so basic that every American understands, by the way, those same Democrats have to show that picture ID to get on the airplane to come up here and vote for socialist policies. But then yet they don't want that to be the case when you vote. And then they would say, ‘don't worry, there's no fraud.’ There's no fraud? Well, why is it just today's New York Post uncovered yet again what we've known all along? Here in New Jersey, they just admitted 6,600 noncitizens are on their rolls, many of them voting, voting in elections, illegals on their rolls voting. And they document in this article many elections that were decided by just a small number of votes. In fact, the margin of the theft, the stolen votes are that margin. You can stop that by just requiring a picture ID. And then you would say, well, then why would anybody be against that? And they'll hide behind all these other ruses, but they'll vote no.

“We've got a bill later today to say, well, let's ban members of Congress from trading stocks. And you're going to watch the board. On an issue that every American understands, and almost every Democrat's going to vote no. And you'll say, why is that? Because it requires a photo ID. What's so harmful about that? You can't go get an unlimited bowl of pasta at Olive Garden without showing a photo ID. Can we at least have the Olive Garden standard when we protect the democracy and the franchise that we have to keep this great democracy? And that's just requiring that you prove you are who you say you are.

“And this, Mr. Chairman, is such a fundamental principle. Not hard to explain to the American people, but actively opposed by Democrats in Congress. And it just begs the question, why? Who are they protecting? Who are they protecting with a no vote, Mr. Chairman, if they know illegals are voting in many of these states where they don't require photo ID?

…

“I think it's critical we protect the sanctity of every American's right to vote. And if somebody else is stealing your vote because they're voting illegally, thousands in New Jersey, then it takes away your right to vote. Mr. Chairman, we ought to be protecting everybody's right to vote."

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The Leader's Floor Lookout: Tuesday, July 21, 2026

Tue, 21 Jul 2026 04:00:00 GMT

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

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. Their obstruction left servicemembers wondering when their next paycheck would arrive and families wondering how they would put food on the table.

Republicans reopened the government by passing a continuing resolution and remain committed to ensuring Americans never again endure a Democrat-imposed shutdown. That's why House Republicans have advanced every appropriations bill through committee and brought many to the House floor. Today, Democrats will once again have to make a choice between responsible governance and partisan pandering.

House Republicans will bring a continuing resolution to the floor today 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.

House Republicans have shown time and again that they are focused on governing responsibly.

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 are bringing forward legislation today 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.

House Republicans are committed to ensuring community banks have the opportunity to grow, compete, and serve the communities that rely on them.

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Scalise: House Republicans Advance Agenda to Strengthen Affordability, Security, and Trust

Tue, 21 Jul 2026 04:00:00 GMT

This morning, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) joined CNBC’s Squawk Box to preview a busy week in the House, outlining House Republicans' agenda to keep the government open, strengthen election integrity, reform congressional stock trading, support America's military, and lower costs for American families. Leader Scalise also contrasted Republicans' focus on delivering commonsense solutions with Democrats' embrace of radical collectivist policies that would raise costs and undermine America's security.

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

Highlights from Leader Scalise's interview:

On House Republicans fighting for Americans on the floor this week:

“We have a busy week. We're moving a number of bills. We're going to be moving what's called a continuing resolution, a bill to make sure we can keep government funded because the basic function of government is to pay the troops, to make sure we can fund, for example, we had the big fight over the Department of Homeland Security and where it hurt families, as you saw lines at airports and Democrats shut the government down. We don't want to have that happen again. So we're going to bring a bill tomorrow to prevent a government shutdown.

“We're going to bring a bill to ban stock trading... a lot of people have this frustration when they see that Members of Congress— some do trade stocks. I don't, but some do. And, you know, right now it's legal. You're not allowed to use insider information, but just the perception of it's not good. And so banning day trading by members of Congress, you know, if you come in from another job, you have a 401K, you can hold that, but you can't be trading along the way while you're a Member of Congress. I think that's a really good, long-needed reform that's going to move this week. We're going to pass that bill.

“We're going to be moving, as you talked about, Reconciliation 3.0. This is a bill, at least a budget, to start that process so that we can actually have the ability to, number one, move the SAVE America Act over to the Senate in a way where they can take this up with 51 votes, not 60. You know, we've seen in the Senate that Democrats do not want to work with President Trump on anything, and this is an important reform to ensure voter integrity. So we're going to move that bill over as well.

"We're also moving the NDAA, the National Defense Authorization Act. This is a bill that ensures that our troops get the priorities they need in military spending so that our department of war is able to stay up to date with our adversaries like China.

"And then we're moving a really good Main Street bill that French Hill over at financial services have moved to help community banks get more level footing with the large banks. So we're doing a lot of important things this week.”

On House Republicans working to secure elections and lower costs:

“There are a lot of really good bills that are over in the Senate. You know, we've got a great permitting reform bill that would be really important to help Americans build again. I mean, everything from homebuilding to roads and bridges that take ten years and sometimes just get shelved because of ridiculous, overriding bureaucracy. We have a great bill that solves that problem that passed with a big bipartisan vote in the House. Can't go anywhere in the Senate. They've got serious problems over there getting bills moved. Just the appropriations bills to fund basic functions of government. They can't get 60 votes to take the bill up and start debating it, let alone to pass it.

"So when you think about something like SAVE America, which is at the heart of democracy, just saying show picture ID to vote, for God's sake, you can't go get pasta at Olive Garden without a picture ID. Why not be able to show a picture ID to vote, the franchise of American democracy, and the Senate can't get 60 votes to move it. So we're sending them this idea in a bill that only needs 51 votes. And, and look, at some point the Senate's going to have to take this up and find a way to get it to the president's desk. It's an 85-15 issue with the American public. Everybody— Democrats, Republicans, black, white— understand this. You get on an airplane, you show an ID, Shouldn't you show an ID to vote when some states actually ban the people at the polls from asking you for an ID? So you don't even know who the people are that are showing up, and it undermines the integrity of the vote. So we're going to get that bill back over to the Senate in a new form. At some point, they've got to pass that bill.”

On the direction of the Democrat party:

“It's a contrast election. Look at how insane the Democrat Party has gone to the Marxist communist left. I mean, they're in a civil war right now where their own leaders are fighting each other. I mean, Hakeem Jeffries is fighting Bernie Sanders. And guess what? Bernie Sanders and Mamdani are winning in their primaries. So they're sending all these far-left extremists who want to defund not just the police, they want to defund prisons. Those are the candidates they're sending up against our Republicans this year.

“And our Republicans are working to make life more affordable for American families. So we're, we're going to keep working on good policies. Democrats this week have said they're going to vote to shut the government down again. That continuing resolution, the funding bill I talked about, Democrats are saying they're going to vote no because they want a government shutdown. They want chaos in America. You know, do you want lines at the airports again for four hours? Do you want our troops not to get paid? That's what Democrats are going to vote for, and that's their message when families just want the government to function, make their lives better, not try to instill chaos just because Democrats are still upset with the president...

“Go look at the polling. We've asked the question, ‘who do you trust more to make life more affordable for you? Republicans or Democrats right now?’ And voters by a large margin trust Republicans because they're watching the Democrats talk about collectivism. They want to talk about getting rid of private property rights, raising tax rates on everybody. That's insane. That's not where we need to go. They, by the way, also want to ban fossil fuels. So, you know, if you're concerned about oil at, you know, $4 a gallon today, imagine California's prices would be the national standard... So these are all going to be on the ballot this November. So there's a lot at stake and their party is showing just how extreme they've gone.”

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Scalise: House Republicans Offer a Clear Contrast on Freedom, Security, and Affordability

Tue, 21 Jul 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Today, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) joined Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), Conference Chairwoman Lisa McClain (R-Mich.), and Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-N.Y.) to highlight the growing divide within the Democrat Party as far-left candidates gain momentum while House Republicans continue advancing legislation to strengthen election integrity, support national security, lower costs, and keep the government open.

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

Highlights from Leader Scalise’s remarks:

On the Communist takeover of the Democrat Party:

“The Bolshevik takeover of the Democrat Party is in full swing, and communism is on the ballot this November against freedom. Make no mistake about that. The lines have never been more clear in an election. You know, just look right now at the fight between Hakeem Jeffries and Bernie Sanders. They're in public war with each other right now, and Bernie Sanders is winning. Bernie's candidates are beating Hakeem's candidates in Democrat primaries.

"Now, in far-left Democrat districts, those communist candidates are gonna likely be elected, but in swing districts, it draws an incredibly sharp contrast between our incumbent Republicans who are working to make life more affordable for working families against these communists who want to literally defund the police. Some are running on platforms, as [Chairwoman] Lisa [McClain] and [Rep.] Nicole [Malliotakis] said, of defunding prisons, defunding the Department of War, taking away private property rights. This isn't a joke. This is something they actually believe in. And you're seeing it play out in cities like New York, but it's coming to a town near you, and it will absolutely be on the ballot this November because the American people do not want America to become a communist nation. But that means Americans have to participate this November to stop it from happening."

On House Democrats' record of opposing commonsense measures:

"And we're going to see more votes on the House floor. You know, what do they want to do? They want chaos. They want power is ultimately what they want. They can't articulate a real clear agenda for the American people because they've been fighting us on all the things that would actually work to lower costs. Keeping taxes low, keeping regulations low, getting government off the backs of working families, producing more energy in America, which lowers costs. Every Democrat voted against that bill.

"So their votes have been very clear on what they want to do. But look at some of their other votes. Last week, we had a vote on the House floor that was brought forward not by leadership, but a vote that would have defunded America's support of Israel. And the Democrats were literally divided right down the middle. A majority of Democrats voted to defund Israel. All but one Republican voted to support Israel. But if you look at the vote, even their own leadership was split right down the middle. Half of their leadership voted to defund Israel and half of their leadership didn't. They're a divided party right now.

"Again, where the communist wing of the party is starting to win out on all of these votes. Look at some of these votes. Again, a majority of Democrats voted to block military aid to Israel. A majority of Democrats voted no on denouncing the antisemitic terrorist attacks in Boulder, Colorado. A majority of them voted against denouncing those attacks. A majority of Democrats voted no on expressing support for law enforcement. A majority. That is who the Democrat Party is today. That's what communism is. They can call themselves whatever they want. Look at their votes. Look at their platform. Look at their actions. And then we're going to bring more bills."

On Democrats threatening a government shutdown:

"We've got a bill this week to just fund the government, a continuing resolution that Chairman Cole is bringing forward today to say, look, we don't want a government shutdown. We don't want the chaos that comes with it. Republicans are united, by the way, behind that. And what is Hakeem saying? He's voting to shut the government down today. Let's watch how all Democrats vote. But the American people are going to be watching that too, because they remember the long lines just a few months ago at every airport.

"Democrats will be voting today to have four hour lines at every airport when you're going and taking your summer vacation this month for a hardworking family. Democrats will be voting today to take away paychecks from our men and women in uniform. That's what they'll be voting on today."

On House Republicans' agenda to strengthen election integrity, ethics, and defense:

"Tomorrow we're bringing up a bill to ban stock trading by members of Congress, something people have been calling for for years. We're bringing that bill to the floor. Chairman Steil's committee worked really hard to get a bill brought forward. Now Democrats are talking about voting against that. Bringing the NDAA. Let's see how that vote goes to just provide the basic layout for how our national defense should be prioritized. These are basic functions of government, basic responsibilities of reforming government.

"Bring in the SAVE America Act again. What is the SAVE America Act? Showing picture ID to vote. Not a complicated subject. Again, anybody that gets on an airplane has to show a picture ID to vote. Nowadays, if you want to go to Olive Garden and get unlimited pasta, you got to show a picture ID. This isn't complicated stuff, yet every Democrat is against these basic things. Why? The only reason you can be against that is if you want voter fraud. It's the only explanation. And they know that. American people get it. We've all seen polling. It crosses every spectrum — Black, white, Republican, Democrat.

"Everybody says, of course, ensure the integrity of the vote. One person, one vote. So that, and by the way, in states, and you saw this yesterday in Rules Committee, Chairman Steil did a really good job of explaining it. In the states where they put stronger voter integrity in place, you actually have higher voter participation because voters actually trust the process better. And so we're going to have these votes this week before we leave for everybody to go back to their districts and work. We're going to have a lot to talk about during this break because we're going to be talking about the contrast, the contrast on the ballot this November between communism and freedom. And the American people will absolutely choose freedom and keep this Republican House majority."

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Committee Cliff Notes: Weekly Preview – Week of July 20, 2026

Mon, 20 Jul 2026 04:00:00 GMT

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

Agriculture

On Tuesday, July 21, the Subcommittee on Commodity Markets, Digital Assets, and Rural Development will hold a hearing called "Examining Customer Protections and Market Integrity in Sports Event Prediction Market."

On Wednesday, July 22, the Subcommittee on Forestry and Horticulture will hold a hearing called "For the Purpose of Receiving Testimony from Chief Tom Schultz, U.S. Forest Service."

Appropriations

On Wednesday, July 22, the Committee on Appropriations will hold a full committee hearing called "Funding Lapses: Analyzing Shutdown Reform."

Education & Workforce

On Tuesday, July 21, the Committee on Education and Workforce will hold 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)

On Wednesday, July 22, the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections will hold a hearing called "Broken Trust: How the Biden-Harris DOL Leaked Confidential Information."

On Friday, July 24, the Committee on Education and Workforce will hold 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 will hold a full committee markup on 29 measures.

On Wednesday, July 22, the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade will hold a hearing called "Legislative Proposals to Strengthen Consumer Protection in a Changing Marketplace."

On Wednesday, July 22, the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology will hold 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)

Financial Services

On Tuesday, July 21, the Subcommittee on National Security, Illicit Finance, and International Financial Institutions will hold a hearing called "Oversight of the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network."

On Tuesday, July 21, the Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance will hold a hearing called "Oversight of the Federal Home Loan Bank System."

Foreign Affairs

On Tuesday, July 21, the Committee on Foreign Affairs will hold a full committee hearing called "Confronting Haiti’s Terrorist Gangs: The Gang Suppression Force and the Path Ahead."

On Wednesday, July 22, the Committee on Foreign Affairs will hold a full committee hearing called "United Nations Accountability and Reform: Advancing an America First Foreign Policy Through Strategic Diplomacy and Burden Sharing."

On Wednesday, July 22, the Middle East and North Africa Subcommittee will hold a hearing called "Building a New Regional Security Architecture: The Next Phase of the Abraham Accords."

On Wednesday, July 22, the East Asia and Pacific Subcommittee will hold a hearing called "Charting a New Course: Countering China's Dominance in Global Shipbuilding."

House Administration

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

On Wednesday, July 22, the Committee on House Administration will hold 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 will hold 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 will hold a full committee hearing called "25 Years After 9/11: Confronting the Next Generation of Threats."

Judiciary

On Monday, July 20, the Judiciary Committee will hold a full committee markup on the following measure:

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

On Wednesday, July 22, the Subcommittee on Oversight will hold 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 will hold 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)

On Tuesday, July 21, the Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries will hold 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)

On Wednesday, July 22, the Committee on Natural Resources will hold 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)

Oversight and Government Reform

On Tuesday, July 21, the Subcommittee on Delivering on Government Efficiency will hold a hearing called "Rewriting American History: Examining the Smithsonian’s Efforts to Reshape the Past."

On Wednesday, July 22, the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform will hold a full committee markup on 15 measures.

On Wednesday, July 22, the Task Force on Defending Constitutional Rights and Exposing Institutional Abuses will hold a hearing called "The Future of DEI in Law School Accreditation and the Legal Profession."

Rules

On Monday, July 20, the Committee on Rules will meet 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)

Science, Space, and Technology

On Tuesday, July 21, the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology will hold 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)

On Wednesday, July 22, the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology will hold a full committee hearing called "Unleashing the Golden Age of Science: Examining the Priorities of the FY2027 Research and Technology Enterprise."

Small Business

On Wednesday, July 22, the Committee on Small Business will hold a full committee hearing called "Oversight of SBA’s Office of Entrepreneurial Development."

Veterans' Affairs

On Tuesday, July 21, the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations will hold a hearing called “Failure at the Front Gate: Examining VA Police and Security Deficiencies.”

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The Leader's Floor Lookout: Week of July 20, 2026

Sun, 19 Jul 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Here’s what to watch for 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 this week we'll bring forward 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.

House Republicans will always support the hardworking Americans who contribute to our national security.

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. Their obstruction left servicemembers wondering when their next paycheck would arrive and families wondering how they would put food on the table.

Republicans reopened the government by passing a continuing resolution and remain committed to ensuring Americans never again endure a Democrat-imposed shutdown. That's why House Republicans have advanced every appropriations bill through committee and brought many to the House floor. This week, Democrats will once again have to make a choice between responsible governance and partisan pandering.

House Republicans will bring a continuing resolution to the floor 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.

House Republicans have shown time and again that they are focused on governing responsibly.

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 are bringing forward 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.

House Republicans will always stand with the brave men and women who defend our country by providing the resources, infrastructure, and support they need to keep America safe.

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.

The 2012 STOCK Act established important protections against insider trading, but many believe additional steps can further strengthen transparency, accountability, and public trust.

House Republicans are taking action by bringing forward 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.

House Republicans believe public service should always come before personal financial gain. Congress should be focused on serving the American people, not profiting from stock trades.

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 are bringing forward 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.

House Republicans are committed to ensuring community banks have the opportunity to grow, compete, and serve the communities that rely on them.

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, this week, 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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Committee Cliff Notes: Weekly Recap -- Week of July 13, 2026

Fri, 17 Jul 2026 04:00:00 GMT

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

Appropriations

On Tuesday, July 14, the Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government, led by Rep. Dave Joyce, held a budget hearing to review the Supreme Court's Fiscal Year 2027 budget request with Justices Elena Kagan and Amy Coney Barrett – the Court's first appearance before the Committee since 2019. Members discussed courthouse security, infrastructure and technology modernization, staffing and operational resources, and investments that support the federal judiciary’s work to administer justice effectively.

Later that afternoon, the FSGG Subcommittee continued its Article I responsibilities with an oversight hearing featuring U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Administrator Kelly Loeffler. Members examined the SBA's efforts to support entrepreneurs and small businesses while reviewing the effectiveness, accountability, and stewardship of federal programs to ensure they remain responsive to the needs of America's job creators.

Budget

On Thursday, July 16, the House Budget Committee held a full committee markup on The Concurrent Resolution on the Budget for Fiscal Year 2027, the SAVE and Protect America Act.

Education & Workforce

On Tuesday, July 14, the Committee on Education and Workforce held a full committee hearing called "Training Activists, Not Physicians: The Impact of DEI on Medical Schools." Why are some of America's top medical schools spending time teaching political ideology instead of focusing on medicine? Members raised concerns about DEI programs, race-based admissions, and activist coursework, arguing that medical schools should be training the best doctors—not pushing politics. This matters to every American because when you or your family need medical care, you want a doctor chosen for skill and trained in science, not ideology.

On Wednesday, July 15, the Committee on Education and Workforce held a full committee markup on the following measures:

H.R. 9607, the Less Bureaucracy, Better Workforce Development Act (Walberg)
H.R. 9609, the Less Bureaucracy, Better Student Aid Act (Walberg)
H.R. 9602, the Less Bureaucracy, Better Foreign Gift Transparency Act (Baumgartner)
H.R. 9603, the Less Bureaucracy, Better International Education Oversight Act (Wilson)
H.R. 9605, the Less Bureaucracy, Better Foreign Medical Accreditation Act (Grothman)
H.R. 9606, the Less Bureaucracy, Better Child Care for Student Parents Act (Onder)
H.R. 9611, the Less Bureaucracy, Better Higher Education Act (Harris)
H.R. 9610, the Less Bureaucracy, Better K-12 Education Act (Harris)
H.R. 9608, the Less Bureaucracy, Better Family Engagement Act (Miller)
H.R. 9604, the Less Bureaucracy, Better Tribal Education Act (Owens)

These bills begin codifying the Trump administration's plan to right-size the Department of Education and ensure students, families, educators, and taxpayers are served by a government that puts results ahead of bureaucracy.

Energy & Commerce

On Tuesday, July 14, the Subcommittee on Energy held a markup on the following measures:

H.R. 3978, the Nuclear REFUEL (Recycling Efficient Fuels Utilizing Expedited Licensing) Act (Latta)
H.R. 5549, the Efficient Nuclear Licensing Hearings Act (Griffith)
H.R. 9084, the Department of Energy Nuclear Transparency Act (Castor)
H.R. 9612, the American Enrichment Deployment Act (Fry)
H.R. 9613, the Nuclear Advisory Committee Reform Act (Harshbarger)
H.R. 9614, the NRC Staff Pay Alignment Act (Menendez)

Affordable and safe nuclear power is essential to meeting America’s energy demands. This markup focused on legislation to help support America's nuclear industry to meet our rising energy demands and ensure we remain a leader in technological innovation.

On Tuesday, July 14, the Subcommittee on Environment held a markup on the following measures:

H.R. 2140, the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act of 2025 (Matsui)
H.R. 3194, the Lifting Overburdensome Commerce Obstructions and Motives (LOCOMOTIVES) Act (Moolenaar)
H.R. 9317, the Buses Utilizing Safety and Environmental Standards (BUSES) Act (Langworthy)
H.R. 9615, the Battery Recycling for America’s Competitive Economy (BRACE) Act (Miller-Meeks)
H.R. 9616, the Environmental Monitoring and Remediation Technology Assessment Initiative (EMRTAI) Act of 2026 (Pfluger)
H.R. 9617, the Coordinating and Harnessing America’s Recovery of Minerals (CHARM) Act (Palmer)
H.R. 9618, the Diesel Engine Flexibility (DEF) Act (Fedorchak)

This week’s Environment subcommittee markup focused on legislation that provided common sense updates to the Clean Air Act to help lower costs for hardworking Americans and strengthen our nation’s recycling efforts, and how we can grow the economy, safeguard our national security, and protect our environment.

On Wednesday, July 15, the Subcommittee on Health held a markup on the following measures:

H.R. 7184, the PRESS Act (McDowell)
H.R. 8005, the Stop Pills That Kill Act (Evans)
H.R. 5880, the Fight Illicit Pill Presses Act (Hageman)

Law enforcement needs real tools to fight the influx of dangerous drugs into our communities. This week’s Health markup focused on legislation to combat the threat posed to our communities by illicit pill presses and empowering local law enforcement to keep our communities safe.

On Wednesday, July 15, the Subcommittee on Health held a hearing called "Maintaining America’s Leadership in Biomedical Innovation: FDA’s Role in Advancing U.S. Drug Development." For patients facing terminal or severe conditions, excessive caution—while intended to be a safeguard—can pose significant risks. This week’s Health hearing examined FDA’s vital role in bringing to market new innovative treatments and cures is key to expanding patient access.

Financial Services

On Tuesday, July 14, the Committee on Financial Services held a full committee hearing called "The Federal Reserve's Semi-Annual Monetary Policy Report." The Committee welcomed Federal Reserve Board Chairman Kevin Warsh for a hearing on his views on the future path of the economy, the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy functions, and efforts to achieve price stability and ensure the Federal Reserve remains focused on its core mission.

On Wednesday, July 15, the Committee on Financial Services held a f ull committee hearing called "The Semi-Annual Report of the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection." The Committee hosted Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) Acting Director Russell Vought for a hearing on the agency’s Semi-Annual Report, the reforms underway at the Bureau, and legislative efforts to ensure the CFPB remains transparent, accountable, and focused on protecting consumers.

On Friday, July 17, the Subcommittee on Digital Assets, Financial Technology, and Artificial Intelligence held a field hearing called "Building the Future of Finance: How the CLARITY Act Unlocks Innovation." This hearing examined how the CLARITY Act establishes a clear and functional regulatory framework for digital assets in the United States. Members will explore how clear rules can encourage entrepreneurs, developers, and financial institutions to build and invest in the United States. Members also looked at how the CLARITY Act supports the growth of digital asset markets and reinforces U.S. leadership in financial innovation.

Foreign Affairs

On Tuesday, July 14, the Committee on Foreign Affairs held a full committee hearing called "FY27 BIS Budget: the AI Arms Race and the ICTS Office." Chairman Mast underscored the urgency with which the U.S. must act to ensure American continues to lead the AI Arms Race. He also highlighted core role the Bureau of Industry and security plays in ensuring our most advanced technologies do not enable our adversaries. During the hearing, lawmakers explored what tools BIS needs to be successful.

On Tuesday, July 14, the East Asia and Pacific Subcommittee held a hearing called "More Bang for the Buck: Aligning Commercial Diplomacy Between State and Commerce." During the hearing, lawmakers underscored the imperative to ensure America’s economic interests remain at the forefront of its foreign policy and explored opportunities to align commercial diplomacy efforts between the State Department and the Department of Commerce.

On Tuesday, July 14, the Oversight and Intelligence Subcommittee held a hearing called "U.S. Economic Security and Investment Abroad: Assessing Economic Security Zones." The lawmakers the role of economic security zones in President Trump’s strategy to build secure supply chains, strengthen private sector investment, create economic architecture that advances American prosperity and security.

On Wednesday, July 15, the Committee on Foreign Affairs held a full committee hearing called "Ending Supply Chain Dependency: Aligning Tools, Capital, and Partnerships." During his opening remarks, Chairman Mast underscored the imperative for ensuring the U.S. does not depend on China for materials, technology, energy and infrastructure that power the American economy. He also highlighted the steps President Trump is taking to advance American energy dominance, secure critical mineral supply chains, and strengthen American industry.

On Wednesday, July 15, the Western Hemisphere Subcommittee held a hearing called "A New Beginning for Colombia." During her opening remarks, Subcommittee Chairwoman Maria Salazar underscored that the U.S. looks forward to working with Colombia as it reaffirms its position among democratic nations that value a close partnership with America.

Homeland Security

On Monday, the House of Representatives passed 10 bipartisan bills that were advanced by the House Committee on Homeland Security to strengthen the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) core mission by modernizing the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), refocusing the Office of Intelligence and Analysis (I&A), supporting border security operations, and enhancing the Department’s ability to identify and respond to emerging terror threats.

House Administration

On Wednesday, July 15, the Subcommittee on Elections held a hearing called “Election Observation: Best Practices and Congress’s Role.”

Intelligence

On Wednesday, July 15, the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence held a hearing called “States on the Frontlines of Counterintelligence.”

Judiciary

On Wednesday, July 15, the House Judiciary Committee held a full committee markup on the following measures:

H.R. 9098, the Congressional Records Protection Act (Kelly)
H. Res. 1394, Condemning prosecution policies that give preferential treatment to foreign nationals over United States citizens (LaLota)
H.R. 3100, the CHILD Act of 2026 (Fry)
H.R. 7651, the Chloe Cole Act of 2026 (Onder)
H.R. 9191, the National Fossil Act (Houchin)
H.R. 625, the Local Access to Courts Act (McCaul)
H.R. 7834, the Safe Cloud Storage Act (Lee)

This markup worked on legislation to ensure far-left prosecutors prioritize American citizens over criminal illegal aliens. It also supported bills such as the Chloe Cole Act, which gives minors and their parents a private right of action against the doctors and hospitals that perform these procedures.

Natural Resources

On Tuesday, July 14, the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations and the Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs held a joint oversight hearing called "Innovative Technologies and Initiatives to Tackle the MMIP Crisis in Indian Country." Members examined how emerging technologies, enhanced law enforcement coordination and stronger information sharing are helping address the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) crisis. The hearing highlighted advancements in DNA analysis, AI-powered investigative tools and aerial search technologies that are equipping law enforcement with new capabilities to deliver answers for tribal families and justice in Indian Country.

On Wednesday, July 15, the Committee on Natural Resources held a full committee markup on the following measures:

H.R. 726, the Crow Tribe Water Rights Settlement Amendments Act of 2025 (Downing)
H.R. 2317, the Northern Nevada Economic Development and Conservation Act of 2025 (Amodei)
H.R. 2406, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Sexual Harassment and Assault Prevention Improvements Act of 2025 (Bonamici)
H.R. 2827, To provide for the equitable settlement of certain Indian land disputes regarding land in Illinois, and for other purposes (Cole)
H.R. 6251, To amend the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 to allow importation of polar bear trophies taken in sport hunts in Canada before the date the polar bear was determined to be a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (Begich)
H.R. 6893, the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Advancement for Training, Education, Restoration, and Science (WATERS) Act (Scott)
H.R. 7889, the Advancing Water Research and Collaboration (AWRC) Act of 2025 (Wittman)
H.R. 8658, the Indian Health Service Emergency Claims Parity Act (Kennedy)
H.R. 9436, To amend the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 to extend the time period for which certain regulations concerning the North Atlantic right whale are effective (Lawler)

The Committee advanced Republican legislation to modernize Crow Tribe water infrastructure, spur economic development and expand conservation opportunities in northern Nevada, resolve longstanding tribal land claims, improve emergency care protections for Native patients, support scientific water research, provide regulatory certainty for Maine's lobster fishery and strengthen commonsense wildlife management.

Oversight and Government Reform

On Tuesday, July 14, the Task Force on Defending Constitutional Rights and Exposing Institutional Abuses held a hearing called "Combating DEI in American Institutions." During the hearing, members analyzed how diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies are pretexts for illegal and unconstitutional discrimination, and how employers and other institutions routinely discriminate on the basis of race, sex, and national origin. Members also examined how the Trump Administration has been working to abolish illegal DEI policies that harm all Americans.

On Wednesday, July 15, the Subcommittee on Government Operations held a hearing called "Emerging Fraud Threats and the Evolving Fraud Landscape." During the hearing, members examined the use and effectiveness of digital identity verification platforms to combat fraud threats and protect American taxpayers. Members also discussed how to identify, monitor, and prevent emerging fraud threats, as well as try to understand how these threats continue to change over time.

Rules

On Monday, July 13, the Committee on Rules met on the following measures:

H.R. 139, the Sunshine Protection Act of 2025 (Buchanan)
H.R. 8595, the National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2027 [Rule Markup Only] (Diaz-Balart)
H.R. 9237, the Take Care of America’s Veterans Act [Rule Markup Only] (Bost)
H.R. 1181, the Protecting Privacy in Purchases Act [Rule Markup Only] (Moore)

This week the committee took testimony on a measure designed to make Daylight Saving Time permanent. Members discussed the correlation between resetting our clocks and seasonal depression. They also detailed how H.R. 139 will boost quality of life, improve public safety, and foster active lifestyles.

Science, Space, and Technology

On Wednesday, July 15, the Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics held a hearing called "A Review of the Office of Space Commerce’s Mission Authorization Proposal." The purpose of this hearing was to consider the proper structure for authorizing and supervising non-governmental space activities not specifically addressed by the current regulatory structure.

Select Committee on China

On Monday, July 13, Chairman Moolenaar and Senator Bernie Moreno participated in a bipartisan event at the American Enterprise Institute to discuss the national security risks of Chinese automobile technologies in connected vehicles, and H.R. 8730 Connected Vehicles Security Act – Chairman Moolenaar’s bipartisan legislation to keep Chinese-made vehicles off of American roads.

On Tuesday, July 14, Chairman Moolenaar was joined by Senator Jim Banks at an event hosted by FDD to discuss how Congress can safeguard U.S. academic research to protect American innovation from CCP exploitation.

On Wednesday, July 15, the Select Committee on China held a hearing called "Protecting American Innovation: The Federal Research Security Enterprise." Chairman Moolenaar and members of the committee pressed officials from the Department of Energy and National Institutes of Health to adopt research security standards that ban collaboration with known foreign entities that are a national security risk.

Small Business

On Tuesday, July 14, the Committee on Small Business held a full committee hearing called "AI on Main Street: How AI is Shaping the Future of Small Business." The purpose of this hearing was to examine how artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming small business operations, competitiveness, and economic opportunity. This hearing also assessed barriers that small businesses face in AI adoption as well as federal initiatives that are helping small businesses learn and implement AI technologies.

Transportation and Infrastructure

On Tuesday, July 14, the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure held a full committee markup of H.R. 9497, the Water Resources Development Act of 2026 (WRDA). WRDA is a bipartisan bill that addresses improvements for the nation’s ports and harbors, inland waterway navigation system, flood and storm risk management, environment, and other aspects of our water resources infrastructure. The bill also includes various policy changes to improve infrastructure project delivery and the Army Corps of Engineers processes.

On Wednesday, July 15, the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure held a full committee hearing called "Reforming FEMA: Ensuring the Nation’s Disaster Readiness Works for Americans" to focus on how H.R. 4669, the Fixing Emergency Management for Americans Act (FEMA Act), supports needed FEMA reforms and to review recommendations developed by the FEMA Review Council established by the President.

At Wednesday’s hearing, Chairman Graves noted, “Last year, I, alongside Ranking Member Larsen, started down the path of examining how we can fix the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA. Around the same time, President Trump issued an Executive Order creating the FEMA Review Council to develop recommendations on reforming FEMA. What everyone seems to agree on is that FEMA is broken and has been for a long time.”

Veterans' Affairs

On Monday, July 13, the Subcommittee on Technology Modernization held an oversight hearing called “PACT Act Implementation: Modernizing VA Disability Claims Through Effective Technology.” Chairman Tom Barrett (MI-07) led an oversight hearing evaluating the Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) 5-year modernization roadmap and the current capabilities of its disability claims processing platform. VA and industry witnesses defended expanding automated tools as helpful administrative aids that augment human processors, while GAO stressed that the agency must adopt strict AI accountability frameworks and focus on workforce upskilling. However, committee members raised serious operational concerns, with Republicans pointing out that management silos and software failures complicate claim submissions, and Democrats and veteran advocates warning that automated fixes often generate errors that stall production and cannot replace government workers.

Ways and Means

On Wednesday, July 15, the Ways and Means Committee held a full committee markup on the following measures:

H.R. 9641, the Essential Caregivers Act of 2026 (Tenney)
H.R. 3108, the Rural Patient Monitoring Act (Kustoff)
H.R. 9642, the Medicare Access to Rural Anesthesiology Act (Moolenaar)
H.R. 9648, the Saving Today’s Acute-Care Resources (STAR) Act (Hern)
H.R. 3514, the Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act of 2025 (Kelly)
H.R. 9644, the Medicare Advantage MLR Transparency Act (Moran)
H.R. 9645, the Health Care Price Certainty for All Americans Act (Smith)

Large hospital systems and insurance companies will be required to be more transparent about their prices and financing practices while seniors and patients living in rural and underserved communities will have more access to better health care under legislation approved by the Ways and Means Committee. Among the policies advanced by the Committee are reforms that will force health insurers and providers to be more open and honest about the cost of care before a patient undergoes treatment. Insurance companies that provide Medicare Advantage plans will also be required to disclose more information about their companies’ finances – including revenues and administrative spending – provide clearer guidelines for how they utilize the prior authorization process, and update and streamline that process to ensure seniors get timely access to care.

In addition to ensuring patients have the information they need to make more informed health care decisions, the Committee also approved legislation to expand and protect access to care in rural and underserved communities – including remote patient monitoring services and anesthesia services – as well as legislation to provide long-term care sooner for the sickest patients who need it. For seniors in nursing homes, legislation approved by the Committee will ensure essential caregivers, like a family member, can enter and provide care – even during a designated emergency when other visitation rights might be suspended.

The Committee’s reform efforts deliver on President Trump’s Great Healthcare Plan to lower health care costs, empower patients with more transparency, and demand more accountability from health care empires.

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