Major Votes to Watch in Congress this Week

There are several pivotal votes scheduled this week on Capitol Hill that will indicate whether there will be a government shutdown this fall and determine the future of funding for the military conflict with Iran. The first procedural test vote on whether to consider these bills is scheduled on Tuesday. 

Continuing Resolution Through December 4, 2026 

The House will vote this week on a continuing resolution (CR) that will fund the government after the end of the fiscal year. This vote will demonstrate whether Democrats in Congress are willing to instigate a politically risky shutdown. 

• Agency funding at FY 2026 levels from September 30 through December 4 in order to prevent a shutdown before the midterms. 

• Considered a “clean” CR that excludes additional policy with the exception of $174k in payments to the families of recently deceased Members of Congress.

• To pass the CR this week, conservatives will have to support the rule for consideration tomorrow then Democrats would need to vote for the bill later this week.

• Requires bipartisan support and 60 votes in the Senate. 

• Liberal Democrats could oppose the bill for funding immigration, ICE, DHS, and the military actions in Iran without any restrictions on President Trump. 

• Mass Democratic opposition will signal a shutdown fight in September. If Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) endorses the CR, a shutdown will be averted. 

FY 2027 Budget Resolution with Reconciliation  

Republican leaders plan to vote on their FY 2027 budget, including $95 billion in spending under the partisan reconciliation process. President Trump and Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) hope to force Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) to consider the bill with a strong vote this week. 

• $95 billion in spending on Iran, SAVE America Act, and farm aid. 

• President Trump and the White House team will need to lobby conservatives who have expressed concern because spending is not offset with cuts. 

• Senate Republicans might rather vote on a budget after the midterms to avoid politically difficult amendment votes during the “vote-a-rama" process. 

• The House GOP wants a quick vote to show progress on the SAVE America Act.

• This week’s vote is a proxy for whether reconciliation is possible before November.  

National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for 2027

The NDAA is traditionally a bipartisan bill, but disputes over Iran and domestic spending levels could turn the defense authorization into a political exercise. 

• Democrats may oppose the NDAA on the floor this week, especially with the death of three U.S. service members in the Middle East and ramped up attacks on Iran over the weekend. 

• The bill increases base defense spending from $890 billion in 2026 to $1.15 trillion in 2027. 

• Traditionally, the NDAA receives widespread support from both parties. 

• Democrats – including the House Armed Services Committee Ranking Member – have complained the bill’s funding increases are too high. 

• Largescale Democratic opposition means this bill is a nonstarter in the Senate. 

119th Congressional Legislative Tracker 

Including the bills that the House will consider this week, there are at least 15 bills that Congress is working to advance before the end of the 119th Congress. 

• CR to fund the government through December 4, 2026. 

• Highway Trust Fund spending reauthorization (September 30). 

• Long-term Farm Bill reauthorization (September 30). 

• National Defense Authorization Act (December 31). 

• Export-Import Bank reauthorization (December 31). 

• Russian sanctions legislation. 

• FY 2027 Budget Resolution with reconciliation instructions.

• Reconciliation 3.0 spending legislation totaling $95 billion. 

• $73 billion for defense ($60 billion) and intelligence ($13 billion) in Iran. 

• $12 billion in federal aid for farmers. 

• $10 billion for states to implement SAVE America Act funding. 

• Confirmations for Attorney General, CDC, DNI, and Secretary of Labor.

• Crypto and stablecoin regulatory structures (CLARITY Act). 

• Railway Safety Act. 

• Reauthorizing FISA’s Section 702 foreign surveillance authority. 

• Increased benefits for disabled veterans (Take Care of America’s Veterans Act). 

• Consideration of the Kids Internet and Digital Safety (KIDS Act) online safety bill. 

• Addressing expiring funding for CHIPS Act and semiconductor incentives. 



• Additional votes on War Powers Act resolutions. 

$3.1 Trillion Potential Price Tag

Including mandatory appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that was signed into law in June, the cost of legislation passed in 2026 could total $3.1 trillion.  

Spending Over CBO’s Baseline 

Because the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) already assumes certain future spending for the food stamps, agricultural programs, and surface transportation projects, their baselines account for some of the costs above. Even using CBO’s baseline, spending for these bills exceeds CBO’s projections by $580.7 billion.