House Faces Tight Deadline on Funding, Farm Bill, and Sanctions as Session Resumes

The House of Representatives returns from its August recess on Monday with only a brief window to address a packed legislative agenda before members leave again to campaign ahead of the Nov. 3 midterm elections. Lawmakers face deadlines on government funding, a $95 billion reconciliation package, highway and farm bill extensions, and new sanctions targeting Russia and Iran.

The chamber’s compressed schedule has raised concerns about whether Congress can avoid a government shutdown, pass critical spending bills, and address national security priorities before the October recess.

Congressional leaders are under pressure to act quickly after the Senate passed a continuing resolution (CR) in a 90-6 vote to fund the government through Dec. 11, sidestepping debate over the national debt, which exceeded $40 trillion on Aug. 20. The House had earlier approved its own stopgap bill to fund the government through Dec. 4, but is now expected to take up the Senate’s version under suspension of the rules to avoid a shutdown. The delay in House action, caused by the recess, means the CR may not reach President Donald Trump’s desk before the Sept. 30 deadline.

Government Funding and Debt Concerns

The Senate’s CR maintains current spending levels and does not address the national debt, which stands at nearly $40 trillion, according to Treasury data. The House’s earlier version passed 220-205, but the Senate’s bipartisan agreement prompted House leaders to move quickly on the upper chamber’s bill. Lawmakers also face the expiration of the highway bill on Sept. 30, with the Senate’s CR including a temporary extension for highway funding. The House must either pass its own extension or approve the Senate’s CR to prevent a lapse in infrastructure funding.

Some senators, including Republican Rand Paul, criticized the CR for failing to include spending cuts or offsets. Paul wrote on X, "Today we will vote on 2 budgets: One spends $100 billion MORE and is not offset by cuts. Pure debt. The other budget actually cuts spending by $400 billion dollars! Call your legislators and demand they vote for NO MORE DEBT!"

Reconciliation Package and Farm Bill Stalemate

The $95 billion reconciliation package remains a top priority for House Republicans, who want the Senate to pass it before October. The package includes $10 billion for grants to implement the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) America Act, $73 billion for military and intelligence spending related to the Iran war, and $12 billion in aid for struggling farmers. The bill contains no spending offsets and does not address the $1.4 trillion deficit. Some senators have expressed concern that the package spends either too much or too little, and Senate Majority Leader John Thune has questioned whether there are enough votes for passage.

The Senate is not scheduled to return until Sept. 14, further narrowing the window for action. Before the recess, the House passed the reconciliation bill, but Senate Republicans threatened to delay consideration until a stopgap funding bill was enacted. President Trump has repeatedly urged both chambers to advance the budget resolution.

The House also faces a deadline to reauthorize the Farm, Food and National Security Act of 2026, a five-year renewal of the 2018 farm bill. The current extension expires Sept. 30. The House passed its version 224-200, but the Senate Agriculture Committee failed to advance its own bill after Democrats voted against a Republican proposal requiring states to share Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) costs. The impasse leaves the future of farm and nutrition programs uncertain.

Sanctions Legislation and Other Priorities

The House is expected to consider The Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, which would require President Trump to impose tariffs of up to 100% on goods from the top five importers of Russian oil and gas and up to 500% on goods imported from Russia. The Senate passed the bill 86-11 on Aug. 7, after it was reintroduced by Sen. Darline Graham following the death of her brother, Sen. Lindsey Graham. The legislation had previously stalled as the Trump White House sought more waiver authority over sanctions and tariffs.

"Today we will vote on 2 budgets: One spends $100 billion MORE and is not offset by cuts. Pure debt. The other budget actually cuts spending by $400 billion dollars! Call your legislators and demand they vote for NO MORE DEBT!"

— Rand Paul, Republican senator

Lawmakers are also debating a provision to delay a ban on hemp THC products, with the White House requesting more time for negotiations with industry stakeholders. Supporters of the CR argue that the extension is necessary to avoid abrupt regulatory changes, while critics say it continues unsustainable spending.

The House’s actions in the coming days will determine whether Congress can avert a government shutdown, extend key programs, and advance major policy priorities before lawmakers leave Washington to campaign.