Congressional Republicans are scheduled to return to Washington in September to address a list of legislative priorities, including government funding and a third budget reconciliation package. House members are slated to return next week, while the Senate is not scheduled to return until Sept. 14, leaving approximately three weeks of joint session time before a planned recess in October ahead of the midterm elections.
The immediate priority for both chambers is passing a continuing resolution (CR), a short-term measure to keep the government funded beyond the Sept. 30 fiscal deadline. The House and Senate have already passed different versions of a CR; the House version extends funding through Dec. 4, while the Senate version extends it to Dec. 11. The Senate's version also includes a provision to temporarily halt a White House budget office rule regarding the authority of political appointees over federal grants.
Progress on a third budget reconciliation package remains stalled following disagreements between the two chambers. While the House passed a budget blueprint in July, Senate Budget Committee Chair Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) introduced a different version in early August that includes higher defense spending. Republicans are also considering using the reconciliation bill as a vehicle for the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE America) Act, which would require proof of citizenship for federal voter registration and photo identification for balloting.
Lawmakers and voters will notice concrete changes in legal requirements if the SAVE America Act is successfully attached to the budget package. This would change the day-to-day process of registering to vote and casting a ballot, requiring individuals to present specific documentation like proof of citizenship and photo ID that may not be required in all current jurisdictions. Additionally, the $1.15 trillion National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) remains unfinished, following a military conflict with Iran that began on Feb. 28. The failure to pass this policy bill could affect military procurement and long-term defense planning.
The next critical steps will occur when the House returns next week and the Senate returns on Sept. 14. Lawmakers must reconcile the two versions of the continuing resolution before the Sept. 30 deadline to avoid a shutdown. Other items awaiting action include a bill to expand sanctions on Russia, which passed the Senate 90-6 and awaits a House vote, and the reauthorization of agricultural programs and foreign spy powers. If these measures are not cleared in the three-week September window, they are expected to be postponed until after the November midterm elections.