Tuesday, November 8th, 2026
Continuing Resolution (CR): Congress passed H.R.6500, which keeps federal spending at the current levels until Dec. 11, after the Senate approved it last month by an overwhelming margin. The resolution takes a government shutdown off the table ahead of midterm elections this fall. It includes a provision that temporarily blocks the Office of Management and Budget’s proposed rule that would put federal grant funding under review by political appointees. It also includes language that would prevent the Trump administration from transferring funds from other programs to Border Patrol. The CR sets up action on a post-election stopgap measure unless appropriators somehow complete work on fiscal 2027 spending in the lame duck. The bill went to President Trump, who signed it.
Condemning Socialism: The House passed H.Res.1490 (220-192), which formally condemns socialism and the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA). The move reflects increasing pressure on Democrats to respond to the successes of DSA-backed candidates in primaries around the country as Republicans look to make anti-socialism a winning message. The legislation also affirmed support for election integrity and called for passage of the Safeguarding American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act.
Supreme Court Amendment: The House failed to pass H.J.Res.1 (212-206), which proposed a constitutional amendment to limit the Supreme Court to nine justices. Amending the Constitution requires a two-thirds majority vote in both the House and Senate and then ratification by three-fourths of the states. House Speaker Mike Johnson said, "Nine justices have worked well. If you go down the road of packing the Supreme Court it turns into a political palooza, and it would not serve the country." House Democratic leadership urged members to vote against the amendment, saying it would strip Congress "of yet another constitutional authority that is meant to be controlled by the American people's representatives."
Democrats have floated the idea of adding justices to the court for years, especially when the current justices have ruled in favor of the Trump administration. Republicans have been against “court packing” since the days of former President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The U.S. Supreme Court was set at nine justices in 1869 by the Judiciary Act of 1869.
University Boycotts of Israel: The House passed H.R.4795 (237-169), which would block federal aid for universities that boycott Israel. 33 Democrats voted with Republicans to pass the bill. The legislation prohibits colleges and universities from receiving federal student aid if they engage in commercial and academic boycotts promoted by the antisemitic boycott-divest-sanction (BDS) movement. The BDS movement seeks to isolate Israel over its treatment of Palestinians.
Protecting Domestic Mining: The House passed H.R.1501 (218-201), which would permanently add mining to the sectors eligible for FAST-41 permitting coordination, which provides greater certainty for domestic projects while maintaining existing federal review requirements. It also prevents future administrations from arbitrarily narrowing that eligibility. The measure aims to make it easier and more affordable for companies to build critical projects and create jobs in the U.S.
Prison Staff Safety Enhancement: The House passed S.307, which aims to improve the safety of staff working in federal prisons by specifically addressing issues of sexual harassment and sexual assault that may occur between incarcerated individuals and Bureau of Prisons (BOP) employees. It now heads to the President’s desk.
Northeast Lobsterman Protection: The House passed H.R.9436 (219-209), which extends the existing regulatory pause (moratorium) on new federal gear rules for American lobster and Jonah crab fisheries from 2028 to 2035.
