Government Shutdown Update – The government shutdown, now in its 40+ day, has surpassed the 35-day previous record for the longest federal shutdown in U.S. history. The previous record was set during President Trump’s first term. The Senate remained in session over the weekend for the first time since the government shut down began last month, voting on Sunday night on a path forward for funding the government. The chamber voted 60-40 on a procedural motion to advance the continuing resolution previously passed by the House of Representatives. The Senate will resume consideration of the funding package at 11:00 a.m. on Monday. Under the deal negotiated by GOP leadership and Sens. Angus King (I-Maine), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), and Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), that stopgap spending bill will serve as the vehicle for an appropriations minibus – funding Military Construction, Agriculture/FDA, and the Legislative Branch for the entirety of fiscal year 2026 – as well as a separate stopgap funding the remainder of the federal government through January 30, 2026. In exchange for Democratic support, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) has pledged to hold a vote on an Affordable Care Act tax credit extension no later than the 2nd week of December. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has refused to commit to such a vote.
A bipartisan group of lawmakers in the House of Representatives released a statement of principles last week for temporarily extending and reforming the ACA tax credits. The principles from Reps. Don Bacon (R-Neb.), Tom Suozzi (D-N.Y.), Jeff Hurd (R-Colo.), and Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.) express support for a two-year extension of the tax credits, paired with an income limit ranging from $200,000 to $400,000 on who can qualify for them. The principles also outline several guardrails to prevent improper payments.
The Joint Economic Committee released an issue brief last week arguing that the ACA credits should be allowed to expire. The brief asserts that the credits have outlived their temporary purpose and are fiscally unsustainable. “Maintaining an unsustainable subsidy bubble perpetuates a broken incentive system that deepens market distortions, burdens the American taxpayer, and converts precious federal dollars into economic deadweight loss,” the committee writes.
Cassidy Introduces Health Information Privacy Reform Bill – Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee Chair Bill Cassidy, MD (R-La.) has introduced legislation to expand health data privacy protections to account for new technologies such as smartwatches and health apps. The Health Information Privacy Reform Act would require health technologies that are not currently subject to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) to disclose how consumer information is collected and shared. The bill also aims to expand individuals’ ability to access, correct, and delete their health information.
Senate Aging Committee Leadership to Consider Rare Disease Drug Pipeline – Senate Special Committee on Aging Chairman Rick Scott (R-Fla.) and Ranking Member Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) have written to Commissioner of Food and Drugs Marty Makary, MD, requesting information about the development and approval of treatments for rare diseases. The lawmakers note plans to hold a hearing focused on the rare disease drug development pipeline and the regulatory challenges that can affect patients’ access to lifesaving therapies. They ask for details from Dr. Makary about the initiatives that have been undertaken “to address the unique challenges facing the rare disease community, and how to increase the speed and number of rare disease drug approvals.”
Cotton Writes FDA on Illicit Chinese Nicotine Products – Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) has sent a letter to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) expressing concern about illicit Chinese nicotine products being sold in the U.S., specifically highlighting the availability of dangerous products targeted at children. Sen. Cotton urges the FDA to increase the number of American products available to consumers, arguing that “only when adult consumers have legal, regulated, and satisfactory alternatives available in the American marketplace will the market demand for illicit Chinese products disappear.” He asks the agency to respond with what additional authorities are needed to curb distribution of illicit Chinese nicotine products, and to provide any plans to increase the number of American products available.
Marshall, Moran Urge CMS to Approve Kansas Rural Health Transformation Program Application – Kansas Republican senators Roger Marshall, MD and Jerry Moran are urging the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to approve their state’s plan for the Rural Health Transformation Program. The two lawmakers have sent separate letters to the health agency regarding the program, which was established under this year’s budget reconciliation bill to support financially vulnerable rural hospitals that could be adversely impacted by the law. “As a physician who practiced in and managed a rural hospital, I understand the challenges these providers are facing. This funding opportunity is an incredible chance to transform our health care delivery system,” Sen. Marshall wrote. Sen. Moran’s letter, which was also signed by Reps. Sharice Davids (D-Kan.), Ron Estes (R-Kan.), Tracey Mann (R-Kan.), and Derek Schmidt (R-Kan.), suggested that Kansas’ plan could “also serve as also serve as a national model for modernizing and sustaining rural health care delivery.”
Rep. Stefanik Enters New York Governor’s Race – Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) announced last week that she will run for governor of New York next year. Stefanik will challenge sitting Gov. Kathy Hochul (D), who is running for a second term. Stefanik was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2014 at age 30, making her the youngest woman in history to be elected to Congress. She served as chair of the House Republican Conference from 2021 to 2025, and currently sits on the Armed Services Committee, the Committee on Education and the Workforce, and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.
Pelosi Announces Retirement After Nearly Four Decades in Congress – Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), 85, has announced her plans to retire at the end of her term after nearly 40 years in Congress. Pelosi was first elected to the House of Representatives in 1987. In 2007, she became the first woman elected to serve as Speaker of the House. Pelosi led House Democrats for nearly two decades, serving as House Speaker under four presidents. She was instrumental in the enactment of major Democratic policy achievements, including the Inflation Reduction Act, the Affordable Care Act, and the Dodd-Frank Act. Pelosi had previously indicated that she would wait to announce her decision on running next year until after California voted on Proposition 50, a ballot measure that will enable the state to redraw its congressional map in Democrats’ favor.
Rep. Jared Golden Won’t See Reelection – Rep. Jared Golden (D-Maine) announced on Wednesday that he will not seek reelection to the House of Representatives. Golden, who is currently serving his fourth term in Congress, represents a battleground district won by the President in 2024. “My decision is motivated by the clarity recent months have provided about the state of our politics,” Golden wrote in an op-ed last week. “I don’t fear losing. What has become apparent to me is that I now dread the prospect of winning.” The congressman currently serves on the Armed Services and Natural Resources committees.
Recently Introduced Health Legislation
H.R.5899 — To amend title XXVII of the Public Health Service Act to increase health insurance access for individuals placing their newborns for adoption; Sponsor: Van Duyne, Beth [Rep.-R-TX-24]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce
H.R.5897 — To amend title 23, United States Code, to improve access to automated external defibrillators at interstate transportation facilities, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Van Drew, Jefferson [Rep.-R-NJ-2]; Committees: House – Transportation and Infrastructure
H.R.5895 —To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to establish certain standards and requirements with respect to obtaining informed consent and providing chaperones for providers of services participating in the Medicare program; Sponsor: Trahan, Lori [Rep.-D-MA-3]; Committees: House – Ways and Means; Energy and Commerce
H.R.5882 —To amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to include food containing dyes, flavoring, and sweeteners as misbranded unless the packaging of such food states such fact; Sponsor: Jacobs, Sara [Rep.-D-CA-51]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce
H.R.5873 — To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to provide an explanation of benefits not later than 30 days after an item or service is furnished under the Medicare program; Sponsor: Bean, Aaron [Rep.-R-FL-4]; Committees: House – Ways and Means; Energy and Commerce
H.R.5872 — To amend title XI of the Social Security Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to verify whether a health care provider is licensed in good standing before issuing the provider a unique health identifier, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Bean, Aaron [Rep.-R-FL-4]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce; Ways and Means
H.R.5871 — To require the Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services to submit a report on Medicare and Medicaid fraud; Sponsor: Bean, Aaron [Rep.-R-FL-4]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce; Ways and Means
H.Res.848 — Supporting the role of the United States in helping save the lives of children and protecting the health of people in low-income countries with vaccines and immunization through Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance (“Gavi”); Sponsor: Kean, Thomas H. [Rep.-R-NJ-7]; Committees: House – Foreign Affairs
S.3093 —A bill to require the Science and Technology Directorate in the Department of Homeland Security to work with the Drug Enforcement Agency to develop greater capacity to detect, identify, and disrupt illicit substances, such as nitazenes, in very low concentrations; Sponsor: Schmitt, Eric [Sen.-R-MO]; Committees: Senate – Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
S.3097 — A bill to provide additional protections with respect to health information, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Cassidy, Bill [Sen.-R-LA]; Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
S.3098 — A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to publish information about conditions and cohorts the Department of Veterans Affairs is considering for purposes of establishing or removing presumptions of service connection regarding toxic exposure, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Blumenthal, Richard [Sen.-D-CT]; Committees: Senate – Veterans’ Affairs
S.3102 — A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend the temporary enhanced premium credits, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Welch, Peter [Sen.-D-VT]; Committees: Senate – Finance
H.R.5925 — To establish within the Department of Health and Human Services an Ombuds for Reproductive and Sexual Health; Sponsor: Williams, Nikema [Rep.-D-GA-5]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce
H.R.5919 — To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct a review of opioid overdose deaths among veterans, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Murphy, Gregory F. [Rep.-R-NC-3]; Committees: House – Veterans’ Affairs
H.R.5915 — To amend title 38, United States Code, to establish additional presumptions of service connection for certain diseases that occur in veterans who suffered toxic exposure while serving at Karshi Khanabad Air Base, Uzbekistan; Sponsor: Lynch, Stephen F. [Rep.-D-MA-8]; Committees: House – Veterans’ Affairs
H.R.5905 — To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide a charitable deduction for the service of volunteer firefighters and emergency medical and rescue personnel; Sponsor: Bresnahan, Robert P. [Rep.-R-PA-8]; Committees: House – Ways and Means
S.Res.485 — A resolution designating the month of October 2025 as “National Military Toxic Exposures Awareness Month”; Sponsor: Moran, Jerry [Sen.-R-KS]; Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Voice Vote.
S.3105 — A bill to regulate human cadaveric islets for transplantation as organs; Sponsor: Lee, Mike [Sen.-R-UT]; Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
S.Res.490 — A resolution affirming the critical importance of preserving the United States’ advantage in artificial intelligence and ensuring that the United States achieves and maintains artificial intelligence dominance; Sponsor: Coons, Christopher A. [Sen.-D-DE]; Committees: Senate – Foreign Relations
S.3148 — A bill to authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services to destroy adulterated, misbranded, or counterfeit tobacco products offered for import; Sponsor: Cornyn, John [Sen.-R-TX]; Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
S.3145 — A bill to amend title XI of the Social Security Act to require the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation to test a comprehensive alternative response for emergencies model under the Medicare program; Sponsor: Collins, Susan M. [Sen.-R-ME]; Committees: Senate – Finance
S.3143 — A bill to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to allow certain alien veterans to be paroled into the United States to receive health care furnished by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; Sponsor: Duckworth, Tammy [Sen.-D-IL]; Committees: Senate – Judiciary
S.3139 — A bill to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish the Zero Suicide Initiative pilot program of the Department of Veterans Affairs; Sponsor: Rosen, Jacky [Sen.-D-NV]; Committees: Senate – Veterans’ Affairs
S.3138 — A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to include adaptive prostheses and terminal devices for sports and other recreational activities in the medical services furnished to eligible veterans by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; Sponsor: Banks, Jim [Sen.-R-IN]; Committees: Senate – Veterans’ Affairs
S.3134 — A bill to amend the Fentanyl Sanctions Act to address trafficking of copy-cat and counterfeit drugs and active pharmaceutical ingredients, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Cotton, Tom [Sen.-R-AR]; Committees: Senate – Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
S.3130 — A bill to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a program to award grants to eligible entities to develop, implement, and evaluate approaches and methodologies for prospective randomized control trials for neurorehabilitation treatments for the treatment of chronic mild traumatic brain injury in veterans, and for other purposes; Sponsor: McCormick, David [Sen.-R-PA]; Committees: Senate – Veterans’ Affairs