Becker’s Washington Weekly: Week of June 2

The Senate Reconciles Reconciliation

Lawmakers return to Washington this week following their Memorial Day recess and the House’s passage of its tax, immigration, and defense reconciliation package.

It now falls on the Senate to take up the bill ahead of the Republican Leadership’s July 4th deadline for final passage; however, House lawmakers would need to ratify any changes made by the Senate before sending the bill to the President’s desk for his signature.

In the meantime, House lawmakers will consider several bills this week dealing with the opioid crisis and Small Business Administration operations. Legislation moving under expedited procedures deal with additional small business policies and Defense Department operations.

Both House and Senate lawmakers will also convene several committee hearings this week, including the following:

• The House and Senate Appropriations Committees will consider the FY26 budget requests for the Commerce and Education Departments, along with the FAA
• The House Foreign Affairs Committee will discuss challenges facing NATO
• The Senate Foreign Relations Committee will discuss China’s influence in Africa
• The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee will examine the federal government’s use of AI