With the midterm elections just over two months away, the House returned to Washington this week to complete action on an extension of Fiscal Year 2027 funding to keep the government operating beyond the September 30 end of the fiscal year. By a vote of 370-48, lawmakers Tuesday passed a continuing resolution (CR) to keep the government fully open through the midterm election season. The House voted to adopt the Senate-approved stopgap legislation — which funds federal agencies through Dec. 11. For construction markets this was the better outcome because the Senate bill extended funding for highway, wastewater and drinking water programs at current levels and also extended highway program authorization through Dec. 11. This action was necessary as the surface transportation legislation also expires on September 30.
Little other legislative action is expected before the House adjourns Thursday September 3 and then remains in recess until Sept. 14, after the Labor Day holiday break. Although Speaker Johnson and GOP leaders have scheduled three weeks in session later this month, with members then out for virtually all of October, there is some push back from members to remain in session longer to address other legislation. Punchbowl News reports the House has only held votes on 19 days since June 1 and cast votes on just 65 days the entire year. This lack of action has raised concerns with many GOP members facing a challenging midterm election. The Senate remains in recess until September 14 and will also recess after three weeks to head home for midyear campaigning.
Congress will return in a "lame duck" session to complete action to finalize a FY 2027 CR as well as potentially complete action on the farm bill, extension of E15 use year-round, agriculture aid and other priorities. The outcome of the elections will determine how Congress will proceed on these issues in the remaining days of the first session of the 119th Congress.