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House

The House is not in session. 

Senate 

This week, the Senate will seek to invoke cloture on the nomination of Eric Chunyee Tung to be a U.S. Circuit Judge for the Ninth Circuit. Tung is a former law clerk to both Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch and the late Justice Antonin Scalia.

Early Signs of Progress as Shutdown Nears Record Length

Last week, the Senate again rejected the House-passed short-term funding bill (H.R. 5371), marking the 13th failed vote and extending the government shutdown into its fifth week. If the stalemate continues beyond Tuesday, it will become the longest federal government shutdown in U.S. history.

 In a notable development, Senate Republican leaders now plan to abandon the House-passed funding patch and instead draft a new Continuing Resolution (CR) that would allow more time to complete the fiscal year 2026 spending bills. The move reflects growing recognition that the House’s proposed November 21 extension would no longer provide sufficient time to finalize the 12 annual spending bills. 

While the length of a new stopgap measure remains under discussion, lawmakers are also weighing ways to advance FY 2026 appropriations as part of a broader framework to reopen the government. One proposal would pair a short-term CR with a three-bill “minibus” spending package covering Agriculture, Military Construction–Veterans Affairs, and the Legislative Branch, with a potential second package to follow that includes Defense, Labor–Health and Human Services, Transportation–Housing and Urban Development, and Commerce–Justice–Science. 

Although there is cautious optimism that progress could emerge, key policy differences remain, particularly over how to handle the expiring Affordable Care Act (ACA) premium subsidies, which are set to lapse at the end of the year. It should be noted that open enrollment began on Saturday, adding urgency for lawmakers to find a resolution.

Relevant Hearings and Markups

Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Wednesday, November 5 | 10:00 a.m. ET | The full committee will hold a hearing entitled, "Registered Apprenticeship: Scaling the Workforce for the Future." 
Hearing Details

Senate Aging
Wednesday, November 5 | 3:30 p.m. ET | The full committee will meet to discuss the Older Americans Act. 
Hearing Details

Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation
Wednesday, November 5 | 2:15 p.m. ET | The full committee will meet to consider nominees to the Department of Transportation, including Ryan McCormack to be Under Secretary for Policy and Daniel Edwards to be an Assistant Secretary for Aviation and International Affairs. 
Thursday, November 6 | 11:00 a.m. ET | The panel will meet to consider nominees of the National Transportation Safety Board and Surface Transportation Board. 
Hearing Details

Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
Wednesday, November 5 | 3:00 p.m. ET | The committee will discuss the nomination of Glen Smith to be Under Secretary of Agriculture for Rural Development. 
Hearing Details