This Week in Congress

Interested in keeping up? 

You might consider referring to the following: 

- Congress.gov: Most-Viewed Bills.
- GovTrack.
- U.S. House of Representatives: Schedule.
- U.S. Senate.

AI can be iffy when it addresses questions about current events, but this is how AI overview answered the question on 12/18/2025: 

This week in Congress (Dec 18, 2025), the House is focused on appropriations (funding bills) and various committee hearings on topics like PFAS, research security, and online predators, with votes expected on items like the SPEED Act and mining regulations, while the Senate is working on passing the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and wrestling with government funding packages (minibuses). Key issues include a potential vote on a congressional stock trading ban in the new year and debates over broadband funding.

House of Representatives
- Legislative Focus: Debate and potential votes on several bills, including the SPEED Act (environmental reviews), Mining Regulatory Clarity Act, Pet and Livestock Protection Act, and others related to Medicaid and child protection.
- Key Hearings: Judiciary Committee markup on violent crime bills; Energy & Commerce subcommittee on PFAS liability; Science subcommittee on CHIPS Act implementation.
- Stock Trading: House Republican leaders committed to a new year vote on banning stock trading for members, but not presidents.

Senate
- NDAA: Working to pass the revised National Defense Authorization Act after it passed the House.
- Government Funding: Senate GOP trying to move a "minibus" of five spending bills, facing potential Democratic holds.
- Broadband Funding: A new bill from Senator Wicker aims to provide states with broadband funds, conflicting with other proposals to claw back money.

Major Issues & Developments
- Continuing Resolutions: Congress is managing appropriations to keep the government funded.
- Special Counsel: House Judiciary plans to question former Special Counsel Jack Smith behind closed doors.
- Policy Debates: Discussions continue on health care subsidies and foreign digital markets regulations.