PSW Weekly Round-Up - 1/5

Legislative Update

Senate. The Senate will vote this week on a War Powers Resolution that would block the administration from engaging in further military action against Venezuela unless authorized by Congress. Because the resolution is privileged, the Senate is required to take a vote and only a simple majority is needed for passage. If the measure should be approved, it is unlikely to advance in the House. In addition to the resolution, the Senate will continue to consider nominations.

House. The House could vote Thursday on a three-bill appropriations package that would provide FY 2026 funding for Energy and Water, Interior and Environment, and Commerce-Justice-Science. The minibus proposal, which was released this morning, came together after the Republican leaders of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees announced on Dec. 20 that they had reached an agreement on the overall totals for FY 2026 spending. While the top-line numbers were not made public, the agreement provides that total funding for the nine appropriations measures not yet enacted will be below the funding levels projected in the continuing resolution that expires on Jan. 30.

The House is also expected to vote this week on legislation that would extend the enhanced tax credits for Affordable Care Act insurance premiums. Democrats plan to put their three-year extension of the credits up for a vote after they secured 218 signatures on a discharge petition signed by four Republicans and all Democrats. Once Democrats call up their proposal, a vote must be scheduled within two legislative days. A final vote could take place on Thursday, but even if the measure clears the House, it doesn’t have the support of 60 Senators. The enhanced credits expired Dec. 31.

Acronym aficionados should note that the House will also vote on the “Saving Homeowners from Overregulation With Exceptional Rinsing Act” (the SHOWER Act) and the “Affordable Housing Over Mandating Efficiency Standards Act” (the Affordable HOMES Act).

Committee Action of Note

Wednesday, January 7

• House Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing: “Oversight of Fraud and Misuse of Federal Funds in Minnesota: Part I”
• House Education and Workforce Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions hearing: “Modernizing Retirement Policy for Today's Workforce”
• Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Federal Courts, Oversight, Agency Action, and Federal Rights hearing: “Impeachment: Holding Rogue Judges Accountable”

Thursday, January 8

• House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife, and Fisheries hearing: “Fix Our Forests for Affordable and Reliable Water and Power Supplies”
• House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health hearing: “Legislative Proposals to Support Patient Access to Medicare Services”

Recent Executive Action of Note

On Dec. 31, President Trump delayed tariff increases for a year, until Jan. 1, 2027, on upholstered furniture, kitchen cabinets and vanities, citing ongoing negotiations. The current 25% tariff on those products will remain in effect but will not be increased to 50% on kitchen cabinets and vanities and 30% on upholstered furniture. Trump’s tariff proclamation and other recent executive actions include:

• To Implement the United States-Israel Agreement on Trade in Agricultural Products and for Other Purposes - Dec. 29, 2025
• Amendments to Adjusting Imports of Timber, Lumber, and Their Derivative Products Into the United States - Dec. 31, 2025
• Regarding the Acquisition of Certain Assets of Emcore Corporation by Hiefo Corporation - Jan. 5, 2026

Political Update

House Special Elections. With the resignation of Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), which is effective at 11:59 tonight, there will be 219 Republicans, 213 Democrats, and three vacancies in the House. In addition to Greene, the other vacancies are the seats of Reps. Mikie Sherrill (D-N.J.), who resigned Nov. 20 after her election to be the next Governor of New Jersey, and Sylvester Turner (D-Tex.), who died on March 5.

To fill Greene’s 14^th Congressional District seat, the Georgia governor now has 10 days to set the date for a special election. Turner’s Texas seat will be filled January 31 when voters in the 18^th Congressional District will choose between two Democrats in a runoff election. In New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District, a special primary election will be held Feb. 5, followed by the special general election on April 16.

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