LEGISLATIVE CALLS TO ACTION -- September 23, 2025

House Passes Continuing Resolution, But Senate Does Not

Last week the House passed its version of a continuing resolution (CR) to keep the government funded past September 30. The vote was mostly party line at 217-212 with two Republicans voting no and one Democrat voting yes. The bill includes the "D.C. Fix" which restores funding the House took away in the last CR. It also includes extra funding for member security in light of the shooting of Charlie Kirk.

But the Senate does not. The Senate voted on two versions of a continuing resolution, one that matched the House's and one proposed by Senate Democrats. Both failed, but the Democratic one failed by v slightly less (47-45) than the Republican one (44-48). Given that the Senate isn't usually in session on Fridays and eight Republicans were absent, it's probably best not to read too much into these differences. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries have spent the past few days publicly pressing President Donald Trump to hold a meeting. Trump said he would “love to meet with them.” But, later cancelled that meeting.

In addition to the ACA subsidies extension, Democrats are demanding that Trump and GOP Republican leaders roll back the massive Medicaid cuts in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. They also want the White House to forgo any more rescission packages and restore hundreds of millions of dollars in public broadcast financing.

For now, Senate Democrats are (to their credit) saying they’ll only back a deal that averts MAGA healthcare cuts and places some checks on Trump’s lawless spending.

Congress is currently on recess. 

(From Govtrack.us; Indivisible National and Punchbowl News)