Becker’s Washington Weekly: Week of December 8

Defense and Healthcare Bills Take Center Stage

As Congress begins its second-to-last session week of 2025, both chambers will be focused on defense and health care policy.

This week, the House plans to take up the FY’26 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), along with a package that would ease securities rules for venture capital firms, closed-end investment funds, and emerging growth companies. The House will also consider legislation requiring DOE to produce assessments of supply chain risks and vulnerabilities affecting electricity generation and transmission, as well as legislation to reform water and natural gas permitting.

The Senate will consider a Democratic-led proposal to extend the expiring Affordable Care Act subsidies for three years. Alternatives, including expanded HSA options and a two-year tax credit extension that would cap income eligibility and eliminate zero-premium plans, may receive a vote this week.

Lawmakers in both chambers will convene committee hearings this week, including the following:

• The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee will discuss pathways to advance workforce development
• The Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies will review the activities and FY’26 funding priorities of the Office of the United States Trade Representative
• The House Oversight Subcommittees on Economic Growth, Energy Policy, and Regulatory Affairs and Health Care and Financial Services will hold a joint hearing on technologies’ role in lowering healthcare costs
• The House Financial Services Committee will discuss AI innovation in Financial Services
• The House Committee on Foreign Affairs will discuss the U.S.-India strategic partnership