House Returns to Washington With Stopgap Funding Bill as Top Priority
WASHINGTON — House lawmakers return to Washington on Monday after five weeks in their home districts with a packed agenda, led by a stopgap spending bill designed to keep the federal government fully funded through early December and eliminate the threat of a shutdown before the November midterm elections.
According to AP News, the Senate-passed continuing resolution would extend current spending levels and policies through December 11, punting major budget decisions until after voters head to the polls. The measure passed the Senate 90-6 on August 8, reflecting strong bipartisan support for avoiding another shutdown fight during campaign season.
Averting Another Shutdown
House Speaker Mike Johnson is expected to bring the funding bill to the floor early in the week under a fast-track process known as suspension of the rules, which requires a two-thirds majority for passage. The bill underwent significant changes in the Senate that made it more palatable to Democrats, including delaying a proposed rule from the Office of Management and Budget that would give political appointees more power over federal grant distribution, and language preventing the administration from transferring funds to the Border Patrol.
The White House has signaled strong support for the measure. “President Trump strongly opposes another futile government shutdown,” the administration said in a statement of policy, according to the Washington Times. “Every member of Congress should support passage of this CR to keep the government open as discussions on full-year appropriations continue.”
However, a provision delaying for one month a federal ban on intoxicating hemp THC products has drawn criticism from many GOP lawmakers, complicating the bill’s path. As a result, GOP leaders will likely rely on the suspension process, which requires significant support from both parties.
The urgency reflects the painful recent history of shutdowns. The 43-day full government shutdown that began October 1, 2025, was the longest in U.S. history, furloughing roughly 900,000 federal employees, according to Wikipedia. That was followed by a 76-day partial Department of Homeland Security shutdown in early 2026 that affected TSA, FEMA, and the Coast Guard. Lawmakers from both parties are anxious to avoid a repeat as voters weigh their options in November.
Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Susan Collins (R-ME) and Vice Chair Patty Murray (D-WA) crafted the bipartisan deal that produced the Senate bill. As NBC News reported, Murray said the bill “rejects Trump’s frivolous war spending wish list” and blocks implementation of a White House budget office proposal that would “allow Trump officials to cancel grants at any time for any reason.”
“It’s good that we were able to produce a much-improved CR to keep the government funded and avert a shutdown that no one wants,” Murray said in a statement.
Russia Sanctions Package Looms
Another significant item that could reach the House agenda is the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, named after the late South Carolina senator who championed the effort before his sudden death in July. The bill, which passed the Senate 86-11 on August 7, would allow President Trump to impose steep tariffs on goods imported from countries that buy the vast majority of Russian oil and gas, including China and India.
As AP News reported, the legislation also includes sanctions on Putin, senior Russian political and military leaders, Russian financial institutions, and Russian energy projects. It would expand U.S. sanctions to target older, reflagged oil tankers that Russia uses to circumvent existing restrictions.
Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), who worked with Graham on the package, said the vote sent a powerful message: “Today, President Zelenskyy is watching from Ukraine — and Putin is watching from Moscow. I would like to think Lindsey Graham is watching, too. Today we say to the people of Ukraine: You are not alone. And today we say to Vladimir Putin: You will not conquer Ukraine.”
A vote on the sanctions bill is not scheduled this week, but proponents are working to have it taken up before lawmakers leave Washington to focus on their reelection campaigns. Some key House Democrats oppose the bill as written, fearing it grants Trump sweeping new tariff authorities that could be used to punish allies rather than foes. Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-NY), the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, warned the bill “would allow President Trump to dodge holding Russia accountable and impose yet more tariffs in his destructive trade wars, leaving Americans to foot the bill.”
Ethics Vote on Rep. Edwards
The House will also have its first chance to act on a recommendation from the House Ethics Committee to censure Rep. Chuck Edwards (R-NC) for engaging in persistent unprofessional and inappropriate conduct toward two young female aides in his congressional office.
The committee, as AP News detailed, found that Edwards provided the young women with lavish and recurrent gifts, made comments regarding their dress and appearance, invited them to intimate dinners and vacations, and sent notes regarding his effusive affection. The panel said his behavior would “lead a reasonable observer to interpret it as such” despite finding no evidence he engaged in sexual activity or explicitly propositioned any staff member.
Edwards has disputed the findings, arguing in a letter to colleagues that “individual acts that were not themselves prohibited were gathered together, assigned the most damaging possible interpretation, and then used collectively to support a conclusion far more serious than the underlying evidence.” He has dropped his reelection plans.
The censure vote comes amid a broader crackdown on sexual misconduct in Congress following the resignations of Reps. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) and Tony Gonzales (R-TX) earlier this year. Reps. Kat Cammack (R-FL) and Teresa Leger Fernández (D-NM) are leading negotiations to overhaul House procedures for reporting, investigating, and punishing sexual misconduct, with recommendations expected in September.
Messaging Votes and Other Agenda Items
Republicans are also planning a messaging vote on a resolution condemning socialism, specifically naming the Democratic Socialists of America. As Newsmax reported, Rep. Jeff Crank (R-CO) introduced the measure, which also reaffirms support for free and secure elections and calls for enactment of the SAVE America Act. The resolution is scheduled for consideration by the House Rules Committee on Monday.
“Socialism is fundamentally at odds with our values as Americans,” Crank said. “I urge swift consideration of my resolution before the full U.S. House of Representatives, which will show the American people whether their elected officials stand for freedom or for socialism.”
Republicans are seeking to tie the Democratic Party to democratic socialist candidates who have succeeded in running for office this year, and are expected to emphasize the issue at their September 9-10 midterm convention in Dallas.
The House is also expected to consider a bill to block federal funding for colleges that participate in boycotts of Israel.
What to Watch For
The coming week will test whether the bipartisan spirit that produced the Senate funding bill can hold in the House, where GOP leaders face pressure from conservatives unhappy with provisions like the hemp THC delay. A successful vote would send the measure to Trump’s desk well ahead of the September 30 fiscal year deadline.
Beyond the immediate funding question, the House’s handling of the Russia sanctions package, the Edwards censure, and the socialism resolution will offer a preview of the political dynamics shaping the final stretch of the 2026 midterm campaign season. With the December 11 funding expiration looming, the lame-duck session promises further budget battles after the election results are known.