Key facts
- The U.S. House of Representatives advanced a $1.15 trillion National Defense Authorization Act.
- A stopgap funding measure to keep federal agencies operational through December 4 was also advanced.
- A budget blueprint for President Donald Trump's priorities, including a voter ID bill, moved forward.
- Republicans are leveraging budget reconciliation to potentially pass legislation with a simple majority in the Senate.
- The House voted 214-211 to open debate on legislation.
The Republican-controlled U.S. House of Representatives advanced several key pieces of legislation before their August recess, including a $1.15 trillion defense policy bill and a stopgap measure to fund federal agencies through December 4. Lawmakers also opened debate on a $95 billion budget blueprint championed by President Donald Trump, which aims to fund his priorities, including a partisan voter ID bill. The House voted 214-211 to move forward on these measures, largely along party lines. Republicans are seeking to utilize budget reconciliation, a parliamentary tool allowing certain legislation to pass the Senate with a simple majority, to enact measures related to defense, intelligence, farm aid, and voter ID restrictions. President Trump actively encouraged House Republicans to vote in favor of the budget resolution. The Senate, led by Majority Leader John Thune, hopes to consider its own continuing resolution before its August 6 break, but this depends on negotiations with Democrats.