Congress Faces Funding Deadlines, Healthcare Subsidy Votes, and NDAA Talks

As the government funding expiration date of January 30 approaches, Congress faces pressure to advance the nine remaining appropriations bills. In the Senate, efforts to move a package of five spending bills, including contentious ones such as Defense and Labor-Health, have stalled due to fiscal concerns raised by Republican members. This impasse suggests bipartisan agreement in the Senate will be difficult. Concurrently, House Republican leaders aim to pass a smaller, less controversial package but are awaiting Senate progress. Consequently, a continuing resolution extending current funding levels appears likely, with significant legislative activity deferred to January amid looming risks of a government shutdown. December will also feature Senate votes on expiring Affordable Care Act (ACA) health insurance subsidies. Following a bipartisan agreement to end a recent shutdown, Senate Majority Leader John Thune committed to these votes. However, they are expected to reflect partisan divisions, with Democrats proposing a three-year extension of subsidies and Republicans advocating for alternative direct payments to health savings accounts. Neither side appears positioned to meet the 60-vote threshold to advance legislation, signaling ongoing bipartisan negotiation challenges and positioning the issue as a key topic for the midterm elections. The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), a must-pass annual bill, remains on Congress’s agenda. Differences between the House and Senate versions include overall spending levels, with the Senate bill authorizing over $30 billion more than the House’s $882 billion figure. Previously proposed provisions regarding federal preemption of state AI standards and semiconductor export restrictions to China were omitted from the final package, though some national security-related export controls remain. Congressional focus continues on reconciling these differences, with a final NDAA version expected imminently. Military operations oversight is intensifying as Congress scrutinizes recent U.S. strikes conducted without explicit congressional authorization. Bipartisan committees are requesting classified briefings and considering proposals to strengthen reporting requirements for such military actions, reflecting congressional efforts to reclaim aspects of its constitutional war powers traditionally ceded to the executive branch. The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear cases with potential implications for federal agency governance and campaign finance laws. One case involves the Trump administration’s attempt to remove a Federal Trade Commission commissioner, challenging a 1935 precedent limiting presidential removal authority of independent agency members. Another case concerns limits on political party coordination spending, with arguments addressing the balance between First Amendment rights and campaign finance restrictions. Additionally, the Court recently reversed a federal ruling on Texas’s congressional map, impacting future elections. There is renewed bipartisan momentum in Congress to regulate stock trading by lawmakers. Multiple bills propose restrictions or bans on stock ownership or trading by congressional members and their immediate family. Despite House Speaker opposition, a discharge petition aimed at forcing a vote reflects growing legislative interest, although near-term passage remains uncertain. The House is also considering the SCORE Act addressing name, image, and likeness (NIL) earnings for college athletes. The bill seeks to regulate athlete compensation and includes provisions barring athletes from employee status under labor law and granting antitrust exemptions to intercollegiate sports. While some Republicans and Democrats support the bill, it faces opposition from others concerned about protections and NCAA authority. After an initial vote was postponed due to insufficient support, the bill’s future remains uncertain, especially given Senate opposition and filibuster thresholds. In political developments, a recent special election in Tennessee saw a Republican victory with a reduced margin compared to previous results, indicating shifting dynamics with potential implications for upcoming House elections. This outcome underscores evolving voter patterns ahead of next year’s midterms. Overall, the current Congressional session is marked by significant legislative challenges including government funding complications, key healthcare subsidy debates, defense authorization negotiations, and emerging regulatory proposals affecting financial practices of lawmakers and collegiate athletics. These developments will shape policy and political discourse through the end of 2025 and into the 2026 election cycle.