Casts 87-9 vote on usually uncontroversial Legislative Branch Bill
On Friday, the Senate managed to pass one of nine 2026 spending packages before heading to their local offices for the month of August. The spending package accounts for $188 billion of the $1.6 trillion expected to be passed for the next fiscal year, covering the Senate’s Military Construction-VA, Agriculture, and Legislative Branch bills.
Though negotiations on other appropriations packages continue slowly, Senate Appropriations Chair Susan Collins of Maine and Ranking Member Patty Murray of Washington commended the work of their colleagues.
“We are on the verge of an accomplishment that we have not done since 2018, and that is pass appropriations bills across the Senate floor prior to the August recess,” Senator Collins said before the final votes. “That is exercising our constitutional responsibility for the power of the purse.”
“I believe Congress should decide how to spend taxpayer dollars,” Senator Murray added after Senator Collins’ speech. “This is how we do it.”
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For members of the House and Senate as they work in their home districts for the month of August.
- For wisdom for federal legislators as they prepare to address federal appropriations in September.
Sources: Roll Call, Government Executive
