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Legislative bills

FY26 Appropriations Cycle Heats Up: Republicans Aim to Pass 12 Bills, Senate Advances Rescissions Package

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

House Republicans are racing to pass all 12 appropriations bills by the August recess, with the MilCon-VA bill expected to be the first to be considered on the House floor. Meanwhile, the Senate has released a three-bill minibus package for the Senate floor, and the House Appropriations Committee will mark up Legislative Branch, Homeland Security, and Ag-FDA bills next week. The Senate Appropriations Committee will also hear from Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought on the details of the rescissions package proposed by the White House, which includes cuts to foreign aid and public broadcasting.

Key Takeaways:

  • The House Appropriations Committee will mark up Legislative Branch, Homeland Security, and Ag-FDA bills next week.
  • The Senate has released a three-bill minibus package for the Senate floor, which is expected to be advanced before the August recess.
  • Senate Appropriations Chair Susan Collins (R-ME) has signaled interest in revising the rescissions package to preserve funding for the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).
  • Vice Chair Patty Murray (D-WA) has warned that passage of the rescissions package would make a bipartisan appropriations deal "nearly impossible."
  • Congress has until July 18 to act on the rescissions package before the statutory deadline expires.
  • The Social Security Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and the Medicare Hospital Insurance Trust Fund are projected to be depleted by 2033, with the combined Social Security Trust Fund projected to become insolvent by 2034.
  • Automatic benefit cuts of up to 23% for Social Security and 11% for Medicare would trigger if Congress fails to act, posing serious challenges for beneficiaries and the broader fiscal outlook.

Statistics:

  • 12 appropriations bills need to be passed by the FY26 appropriations cycle.
  • 3 bills will be marked up by the House Appropriations Committee next week.
  • 3-bill minibus package will be advanced by the Senate before the August recess.
  • Congress has until July 18 to act on the rescissions package.
  • Social Security Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and Medicare Hospital Insurance Trust Fund will be depleted by 2033.
  • Combined Social Security Trust Fund will become insolvent by 2034.
  • Automatic benefit cuts of up to 23% for Social Security and 11% for Medicare would trigger if Congress fails to act.

Sources:

  • "FY26 Hits the Floor" - Mondaq Ltd
  • "Warning on Social Program Insolvency" - Mondaq Ltd
  • "The Social Security and Medicare Trustees Report" - Social Security and Medicare Trustees
  • "Rescissions Rework" - Mondaq Ltd

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