House Passes VA Funding Bill 400-15 and Farm Bill as Election Window Narrows
Updated
Updated · POLITICO · May 18
House Passes VA Funding Bill 400-15 and Farm Bill as Election Window Narrows
2 articles · Updated · POLITICO · May 18
A 400-15 House vote advanced the first fiscal 2027 appropriations bill for Veterans Affairs, while the chamber also cleared its version of the farm bill in an early push to show legislative progress.
Election pressure is driving that sprint: lawmakers in both parties say they want tangible results before midterm campaigning intensifies and reinforces voter perceptions of dysfunction on Capitol Hill.
Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Republicans are also signaling more bicameral cooperation, with bipartisan talks underway on crypto tax rules, energy permitting, AI regulation, manufacturing and reauthorizing the Great American Outdoors Act.
That window is still constrained by mistrust and GOP internal fights, with Johnson threatening changes to a bipartisan housing package and negotiating SCORE Act revisions for hard-liners after Trump pressed Republicans on other priorities.
More difficult must-pass work still lies ahead, including broader government funding, a surface transportation bill and Senate resistance to some House measures such as year-round E15 gasoline sales.
As AI's energy demand soars, can lawmakers fast-track the power grid upgrades needed to support it?
With new rules looming for college sports, can Congress protect student-athletes without upending the system?