HOUSE SLATED TO VOTE ON SHUTDOWN DEAL AS EARLY AS TONIGHT

November 12, 2025

The House is expected to vote as early as this evening on the Senate amendment to HR 5371, the Continuing Appropriations, Agriculture, Legislative Branch, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Extensions Act, 2026. The package includes a short term continuing resolution through Jan. 30 and three full year fiscal 2026 appropriations bills for Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration, and the Legislative Branch. The Senate approved the measure Sunday night by a vote of 60 to 40, moving Congress closer to ending the longest government shutdown in United States history.

The shutdown resulted from a standoff over the expiration of enhanced Affordable Care Act premium tax credits on Dec. 31. As part of the agreement used to advance HR 5371, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) committed to holding a vote by mid December on legislation to extend the expiring credits. Eight senators who caucus with Democrats supported moving the bill forward. They are Sens. Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), and Angus King (I-Maine).

Details of the three bill package

Military Construction and Veterans Affairs

The bill provides $153.3 billion in discretionary funding, including $133.2 billion for the Department of Veterans Affairs and $115.1 billi Save on for veterans medical care. It includes $19.7 billion for Department of Defense construction projects, $122.3 billion in advance funding for fiscal 2027, and $53.7 billion for the Toxic Exposures Fund.

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Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration

The bill provides $26.65 billion in discretionary funding for fiscal 2026 to support rural communities, agricultural producers, conservation programs, and food and drug safety activities. It includes $211 million for the Agricultural Marketing Service, including $1 million for the Cattle Contract Library Pilot Program, and $1.4 billion for the Farm Service Agency to support $10 billion in farm loans and maintain county offices. The bill provides $850 million for the Natural Resources Conservation Service’s technical and financial assistance programs, including $50 million for Watershed and Flood Prevention Operations and $3 million for dam rehabilitation, while reducing funding for offices and programs focused solely on urban agriculture. Rural development programs total $4.1 billion, including $1.7 billion for rental assistance, $1 billion for single family housing loans, $1.4 billion for water and wastewater infrastructure, $1.8 billion for rural business programs, and $109 million for rural broadband expansion.

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Legislative Branch

The bill provides $7.3 billion in discretionary funding for Congress and legislative agencies. It includes $2.1 billion for House operations and $1.5 billion for Senate operations. It maintains full funding for the Government Accountability Office and continues the freeze on cost of living adjustments for members of Congress.

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Continuing resolution coverage

If enacted, the continuing resolution would extend funding for the nine remaining fiscal 2026 appropriations bills through Jan. 30. It would provide back pay for furloughed federal employees and allow state and local partners to resume federally funded activities. Standard continuing resolution conditions would remain in effect, including no new starts for the United States Army Corps of Engineers and no congressional earmarks.

The measure includes short-term extensions of the National Flood Insurance Program and selected farm bill authorities through Jan. 30.

The nine appropriations bills that would remain under the continuing resolution are Defense; Energy and Water Development; Commerce, Justice, Science; Financial Services and General Government; Homeland Security; Interior and Environment; Labor, Health and Human Services, Education; State and Foreign Operations; and Transportation and Housing and Urban Development.

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Background

Congress and the President must enact 12 appropriations bills each year to fund the federal government for the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1. When some or all of those bills are not enacted on time, Congress passes a continuing resolution to extend funding at current levels. Without a continuing resolution, the federal government must shut down.

Fiscal 2026 began without any of the 12 appropriations bills completed, resulting in a shutdown on Oct. 1. The three bills included in this package would be enacted for the full fiscal year. The remaining nine would continue to operate under the continuing resolution through Jan. 30.

Reopening timeline

If the House approves the package and the President signs it, federal agencies will begin reopening. It will take several days for departments to recall furloughed staff, restart suspended programs, restore systems and services, and resume normal operations. The Office of Management and Budget typically directs agencies to bring staff back in phases to reduce backlogs and prevent operational bottlenecks.

The Federal Aviation Administration will also need time to restore air traffic operations. Air traffic control facilities must reestablish staffing rotations, complete system and equipment checks, and gradually increase traffic capacity. According to industry experts, residual effects on flight schedules may continue for several days, if not longer.

Looking ahead

The package would keep the federal government funded through Jan. 30. With limited legislative days before the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, Congress will have a narrow window to complete the remaining fiscal 2026 appropriations bills. This increases the likelihood of another short term continuing resolution or a full year extension if lawmakers cannot complete their work in time.

Julie A. Ufner
President and CEO
National Waterways Conference (NWC)
703-203-4795 (cell)
waterways.org