Congress is responsible for enacting laws that affect the lives of Americans. Congress also convenes hearings to inform the legislative process, and oversees the executive branch. The Constitution establishes Congress as the people’s voice in government.
Senate leaders are hoping to break a multi-day impasse over the fiscal 2026 spending bills that fund the Veterans Affairs and Agriculture departments, as well as military construction projects and the FDA. They’re expected to request unanimous consent Friday morning on some constellation of those three bills, with a fourth bill funding Congress itself being voted on separately. The goal is to advance the legislation before the Senate departs for its August recess.
The Senate’s first business day post-recess will likely include a procedural vote on the National Defense Authorization Act, Connor O’Brien reports. The measure passed the House Armed Services Committee with bipartisan support in July, and is among the most important pieces of legislation still pending in the Senate.
Congressional town halls are back in full force as Republicans try to sell their sweeping tax and spending law ahead of the November elections. But some GOP members are facing unruly crowds, including Rep. Bryan Steil, who faced jeers and boos from his constituents in Wisconsin on Thursday night.
The NRCC is urging Republicans to aggressively sell Trump’s big domestic policy law during their August recess, though the Republican leadership discouraged town halls earlier this year. In one district, a Democratic mayor says she’s worried about her local economy because of the impact of the federal budget cuts.