09.08.2025 - DC Download

Sep 8

Congress is back in session this week, and stakes are high. President Trump is continuing to use the military to escalate tensions at home and abroad, and Congressional lawmakers will have to sort through differences to avoid a government shutdown on September 30.

Read on for more of what’s happening this week on the Hill.

House

House Floor

The House will vote on 18 suspension bills from the Committees on Energy and Commerce and Natural Resources. Suspension bills require a ⅔ majority to pass. For a list of all suspension bills being considered, click here.

This week the House will also consider the following bills, subject to a rule:

H.R. 3838 – Streamlining Procurement for Effective Execution and Delivery and National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 (Sponsored by Rep. Rogers (AL) / Armed Services Committee) – This bill authorizes $893 billion in funding for fiscal year 2026 for military spending and activities, and nuclear weapons programs.

H.R. 3486 – Stop Illegal Entry Act of 2025 (Sponsored by Rep. Bice / Judiciary Committee) – This bill increases the maximum allowed prison sentences and, in some circumstances, sets mandatory minimum sentences for noncitizens who are caught more than once entering or attempting to enter the U.S. without inspection. It also increases the length of prison sentences for noncitizens who enter, attempt to enter, or are found in the country after having been ordered deported.

House Committee Highlights

A full list of this week’s hearings and markups can be found here. Notable hearings and markups include:

Tuesday Hearings

Markup of Fiscal Year 2026 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Bill (Committee on Appropriations)

Exploring State Options in SNAP (Committee on Agriculture)

Unmasking Union Antisemitism (Committee on Education and Workforce)

Better Meals, Fewer Pills: Making Our Children Healthy Again (Committee on Oversight and Reform)

Exploring the Economic Potential of the Golden Age of American Energy Dominance (Committee on Natural Resources)

Public Safety Communications in the United States (Committee on Energy and Commerce)

Wednesday Hearings

Markup of Fiscal Year 2026 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Bill (Committee on Appropriations)

Proxy Power and Proposal Abuse: Reforming Rule 14a-8 to Protect Shareholder Value (Committee on Financial Services)

Leveling the Playing Field: Fostering Opportunities for Small Business Contractors (Committee on Small Business)

From Playground to Classroom: The Spread of Antisemitism in K-12 Schools (Committee on Education and Workforce)

Senate

Senate Floor

Nominations

The Senate this week has teed up final votes on the following nominees:

Edward Artau, to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of Florida
Maria A. Lanahan, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Missouri

Senate Committee Highlights

Tuesday Hearings

How the Corruption of Science has Impacted Public Perception and Policies Regarding Vaccines (Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs)

Wednesday Hearings

Sounding the Alarm: America’s Fire Apparatus Crisis (Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs)

Hidden Harms: Examining Whistleblower Allegations that Meta Buried Child Safety Research (Judiciary)

Hearing to Consider the Nominations of Jonathan Greenstein, to be a Deputy Under Secretary of the Treasury; and Donald Korb, to be Chief Counsel for the Internal Revenue Service and an Assistant General Counsel in the Department of the Treasury (Finance)

Evaluating Perspectives on Deposit Insurance Reform (Banking, Housing, & Urban Affairs)

A Legislative Hearing to Examine a Discussion Draft of the Wildfire Emissions Prevention Act; and S. 881, the Renewable Fuel for Ocean-Going Vessels Act (Environment & Public Works)

AI’ve Got a Plan: America’s AI Action Plan (Commerce, Science, & Transportation)

Business Meeting to consider the Nomination of Mr. William Kirkland to be Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs, U.S. Department of the Interior & Oversight Hearing entitled “Unleashing Indian Energy – Examining Federal Programs at the U.S. Department of Energy” (Indian Affairs)

Nomination of William Kirk to be Inspector General of the Small Business Administration (Small Business & Entrepreneurship)

Thursday Hearings

Executive Business Meeting to Consider Judicial Nominees (Judiciary)

Full Committee Markup of the Homeland Security Appropriations Act (Appropriations)

To consider the nomination of: General Christopher J. Mahoney, USMC for reappointment to the grade of general and to be Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (Armed Services)

Hearing to consider U.S. Ambassador nominations (Foreign Relations)

Issues to Watch

Militarization Abroad and at Home

This month has been beset with violent uses of military force at home at escalatory attacks abroad. Last month, Trump invoked Section 740 of the D.C. Home Rule Act to seize control of the city’s police, flooding the streets with federal agents and National Guard troops to “fight crime” in a city that is already experiencing a drop in violent crime. At the same time, last week, he ordered a maritime strike that killed 11 Venezuelans, claiming without evidence that the strike was necessary to thwart terrorism. Since the strike, several lawmakers have weighed in, calling the acts illegal and a violation of international law.

Both instances set a dangerous precedent from the same playbook: bypass Congress, skirt international and U.S. law, and deploy overwhelming force against people—whether U.S. citizens at home or non-citizens abroad—under the guise of “law and order.”

D.C. city officials are now suing the Trump administration, calling the invocation of Section 740 and deployment of National Guard troops unlawful. How this lawsuit unfolds could be a bellwether—especially after a U.S. judge ruled against Trump’s military deployment in Los Angeles and cautioned that the President appeared to be intent on “creating a national police force with the President as its chief.” If courts continue to strike back, it could short-circuit Trump’s plans to occupy other cities, like Chicago.

More on this:

Legal Issues Raised by a Lethal U.S. Military Attack in the Caribbean (Just Security)

Trump’s D.C takeover has led to more arrests. NPR looks at cases of those swept up (NPR)

The Costs of President Trump’s Domestic Military Deployments (Taxpayers for Common Sense)

September Shutdown Looms

As the September 30 deadline for Congress to fund the government approaches, GOP lawmakers are pushing for a short-term continuing resolution (CR) to avert a government shutdown. But hardline conservatives are already balking at the idea, demanding a full-year CR.
Adding fuel to the fire, President Trump has again tried to cancel funding Congress allocated for international aid via a “pocket rescission.” Unlike a standard rescission, which requires congressional approval, a pocket rescission is a maneuver wherein funds are withheld just before the end of the fiscal year—too late for Congress act before the money expires. Pocket rescissions are illegal. Accordingly, a U.S. appeals court has already ruled the administration cannot continue these foreign aid cuts, and lawmakers from both sides of the aisle have also voiced their concerns.

Congressional Democratic leaders face pressure to negotiate strong terms in exchange for supporting any new CR, particularly after some Democratic members faced scrutiny for helping advance a partisan CR earlier this year. One key ask: renewing ACA premium tax credits that are set to expire and trigger premium hikes for low-income Americans. Conservatives are warning they’ll only consider extending the credits if paired with new Medicaid cuts.

Meanwhile, GOP Appropriations Chairs Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.) and Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) have expressed support for three full-year bills funding the Department of Agriculture, the Legislative Branch, and military facility funding and veterans’ programs, in addition to a short-term continuing resolution for the nine remaining bills.

Speaker Johnson has yet to take a firm position as the House’s already razor-thin margin shrinks this week.

More on this:

GOP, Democratic leaders look to de-escalate shutdown standoff (The Hill)