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News and updates

News and updates

Senate Releases Five More FY7 Appropriations Bills

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The Senate Committee on Appropriations released five additional FY 2027 bills yesterday evening: Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies; Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies; Homeland Security; Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies; and Legislative Branch.

Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies

Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies

Homeland Security

Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies

Legislative Branch

An updated appropriations tracker on our website will soon be available.

Scott Colom Wins Mississippi Senate Race

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Democratic challenger Scott Colom has pulled off an upset victory over Republican Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith, flipping the red state of Mississippi. It’s been 44 years since Mississippi last elected a Democrat to the Senate, and Hyde-Smith’s seat was one that Republicans expected to win easily. Donald Trump won Mississippi by 23 points in 2024.

Colom’s victory brings the Democrats up to a 55-44 majority in the Senate. The remaining Senate race in Alaska is still too close to call.

Collins Releases Two FY27 Funding Bills

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Senate Appropriations Chair Susan Collins released long-delayed FY27 Agriculture and Military Construction-VA bills on Tuesday evening. She has been criticized by other lead appropriators for not releasing any of the FY27 spending bills earlier, as the House passed their versions in June.

The FY27 Agriculture bill would provide $27.3 billion in discretionary spending, covering agriculture research, nutrition programs, FDA, and other farm-related spending.

The FY27 Military Construction-VA bill would provide $173.2 billion, a 13% increase from last year.

Sen. Collins told reporters yesterday that ranking member Sen. Murray was blocking progress and pushing for another stopgap spending bill. Sen. Murray told reporters she is supportive of a short-term continuing resolution which would carry into the next Congress, when Democrats will have more influence over the bills with their upcoming large majorities.

Committee to Vote on NSF Director Nomination

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The Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee has scheduled a vote on the nomination of James O’Neill to head the National Science Foundation (NSF) for November 18.  O’Neill was nominated for the top post at NSF after the resignation of the last director “Panch” Panchanathan.

O’Neill has previously served at the Department of Health and Human Services.  He was nominated for the NSF post earlier this year and there were questions about whether the  leadership of the HELP Committee would move his nomination forward before the end of this Congress.

The announcement about the vote was released earlier today.

Hegseth Impeachment Effort Blocked

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House Republicans this evening blocked an effort to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, in a 211 to 204 vote. The impeachment process was spearheaded by Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY), who was the only Republican to vote with Democrats.

The vote was to impeach Hegseth on eighth separate charges, which included violating the Constitution by starting the war in Iran without congressional authorization. Republican leaders worried that low Republican attendance would allow the impeachment effort to move forward. In the end, 11 Democratic members also missed the roll call vote.

Democrats could still try to impeach Hegseth next year when they control Congress.