The looming crisis (and Republicans are fiddling while DC burns): June 12, 2025 - September 23, 2025

Quick note: I am consciously conflating the debt ceiling and “funding the government,” since the battle lines themselves are unclear, vague, and move depending on whether Republicans are attacking a Democratic president or defending Trump. Because their positions are not set in stone. They are quite variable, reflecting their perceived grasp on power.

Remark 171-101, page H2796-3. On June 12, 2025, our oh-so-very-clever LLOYD SMUCKER (R-PA) spoke in favor of passing HR 4 – Rescissions Act of 2025. Direct quote in its entirety: Mr. Speaker, this bill represents a tiny fraction of the total we are spending annually. It is a tiny fraction, 0.2 percent, one-fifth of a percent of what President Biden added to the debt over the last 4 years. Yet, Democrats are saying that these savings are cruel. They literally said this will destroy America as we know it. No one outside of the beltway will take them seriously.

Have my Democratic colleagues even looked at what is in this bill before attacking? Is it cruel to suggest that American taxpayers shouldn’t have to pay $60,000 to celebrate DEI in the Netherlands or $30,000 to foster “queer-feminist discourse” in Albania? Is it cruel to cut a program spending $700,000 to expand fruit and jam sales in Honduras?

By the way, speaking of jam, my last name is Smucker, but even I know that is a bad deal. Mr. Speaker, I can tell you what will destroy America as we know it, and that is this unsustainable debt that we are passing on to our kids and grandkids. I urge my colleagues to support this rescission package.

HR-4, which became Public Law No: 119-28 on July 24, 2025, rescinded $9.4 billion in unobligated funds that were provided to the Department of State, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), various independent and related agencies, and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. The rescissions were proposed by Trump personally under procedures included in the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974.

As usual, our oh-so-very-clever LLOYD SMUCKER (R-PA) did the bidding of his masters. Include spreading disinformation about what was rescinded.

July 22, 2025 release: Transcript of the February 26, 2025 hearing. “Examining the Biden Administration’s Energy and Environment Spending Push.”

The strong pro-Elon tone of that meeting did not age well. Even more than heralding Elon’s contribution to ‘uncovering waste and fraud,’ this hearing belabored their accusation that spending issues were the fault of the Biden administration.

EC4189 - July 21, 2025. From the Secretary, Department of the Treasury, transmitting notification of the Secretary’s determination that, by reason of the statutory debt limit, the Secretary will be unable to fully invest the portion of the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund (CSRDF) not immediately required to pay beneficiaries, and that a “debt issuance suspension period,” previously determined to end on June 27, 2025, will continue through July 24, 2025.

H.R.4634 – Debt Ceiling Reform Act. To provide a process for ensuring the United States does not default on its obligations.

Introduced July 23, 2025 by Brendan Boyle (D-PA). No cosponsors. Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means and Rules and Budget the same day.

No cosponsors. But also no Republican counterproposals. Just a resolution — see H.Res.631 below.

Snarky comment: For a committee (House Budget Committee) where the Republican chair placed a banner reading, “What We’re Lacking in Washington Is Courage to Do What Is Necessary,” this committee surely does very little indeed. Rep. Arrington gripes about the debt ceiling, but does little or nothing.

H.Res.631 - Recognizing the national debt as a threat to national security.

Introduced August 5, 2025 by Andy Biggs (R-AZ). Cosponsored by Byron Donalds (R-FL), Paul Gosar (R-AZ), Daniel Webster (R-FL), Dan Newhouse (D-WA), Keith Self (R-TX), Clay Higgins (R-LA), Nancy Mace (R-SC), Warren Davidson (R-OH), and Elise Stefanik (R-NY). Referred to the Committee on the Budget and Ways and Means the same day.

I do not usually list all names when there are more than three or five cosponsors. But I want these names public, so we can hold them accountable. Where are they when House Democrats actually try to DO something about the national debt or the debt ceiling? They neither cosponsor those bills, nor do they come up with their own as counterpoint.

It. Is. 100%. Performative.

H.R.5043 - Bringing Benefits Back Act of 2025. To repeal certain portions of An Act to provide for reconciliation pursuant to title II of H. Con. Res. 14.

Introduced August 26, 2025 by Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL). No cosponsors. Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means and Energy and Commerce and Agriculture the same day.

Sum total of this proposed legislation: Subtitle A of title I and subtitle B of title VII of An Act to provide for reconciliation pursuant to title II of H. Con. Res. 14 (Public Law 119–21) are repealed and any law amended by such provisions is hereby restored or revived as if such amendments had never been enacted.

And what sections of the Big Bad Bill (aka Public Law 119-21) did Cole propose to repeal? Well, Subtitle A of title I would take SNAP and related nutritional programs back to 2008 levels, instead of the devastation imposed by Trump’s bill. And Subtitle B of title VII would undo the damage to Medicaid that Trump’s bill wrought.

Such a revolutionary! And of course, the bill did not make it out of committee.

S.2721 - Prevent Government Shutdowns Act of 2025. To provide for a period of continuing appropriations in the event of a lapse in appropriations under the normal appropriations process, to establish procedures and consequences in the event of a failure to enact appropriations.

Introduced September 4, 2025 by James Lankford (R-OK). Cosponsored by twelve Republicans and no Democrats. I don’t usually do this, but I’m getting tired of extremist Republicans, so here goes. Cosponsored by John Barrasso (R-WY), Steve Daines (R-MT), John Cornyn (R-TX), Ted Budd (R-NC), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Tommy Tuberville (R-FL, I mean AL), Katie Britt (R-AL), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Josh Hawley (R-MO), and our own DAVE McCORMICK (R-PA).

If you are a legislative guru, could you please read and compare S.2721 and H.R.5130? Trying to wrap my head around all these words!

H.R.5130 - Prevent Government Shutdowns Act of 2025. To provide for a period of continuing appropriations in the event of a lapse in appropriations under the normal appropriations process, to establish procedures and consequences in the event of a failure to enact appropriations.

Introduced September 4, 2025 by Jodey Arrington (R-TX). Cosponsored by Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY). Referred to the Committee on Appropriations and Rules and House Administration and Oversight and Government Reform and Budget.

If I am reading this bill correctly, these two madcap Republican women wish to impose penalties on Congress itself, and federal employees, if there’s a lapse in appropriations. No access to campaign funds. No reimbursed travel expenses, except for a single return trip to DC.

I especially like “no access to campaign funds,” because you know that’s been the loophole most fat cats have relied on. And of course this is stuck in committee! Do you really think Speaker Mike Johnson would allow a bill to be considered that impacted his wallet? It’s all right to mess with someone else’s. As long as he can access campaign funds to pay his bills.

Hey, Jodey and Nicole! Ever consider switching parties? You may need to.

S.2794 - DECLINE Act (Deactivating and Eliminating Cards Linked to Inactive or Nonexistent Employees Act). To require the heads of agencies to establish a policy with respect to the deactivation of charge cards of employees separating from the agency.

Introduced September 11, 2025 by Joni Ernst (R-IA). Cosponsored by Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and Mike Lee (R-UT).

Why are Joni Ernst and her super-far-right colleagues wasting ink on this? There’s already a bipartisan bill, passed in 2012 (Obama era) that Ernst’s bill is duplicating. Public Law 112-194 from October 5, 2012, Government Charge Card Abuse Prevention Act of 2012, does all this and more.

I therefore put Ernst’s proposed legislation in this section, as it appears she wants to emphasize this egregious abuse of power (sigh) in advance of a government shutdown. Makes me want to audit the credit card usage of Joni Ernst, Marsha Blackburn, and Mike Lee!

H.R.5371 - Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2026. Making continuing appropriations and extensions for fiscal year 2026.

Introduced September 16, 2025 by Tom Cole (R-OK). No cosponsors.

This is a long bill. Cole (and House Republicans) sought to add or subtract from pet projects in this CR, without making a single concession requested by Democrats. Read it for yourself.

Note that passage in the House on September 19 was not a given. You can follow the play-by-play, both in the House and Senate, here.

THIS IS THE BILL THAT SPEAKER JOHNSON WANTS TO FORCE THROUGH.

Announcement September 17, 2025. Meeting of the House Ways and Means committee held the same day, 10:00AM(EDT) | 1100 Longworth House Office Bldg, Washington, D.C. According to its own Web site, the Ways and Means Committee “shapes fiscal legislation including taxes, tariffs, and social service programs.” Emphasis on shapes fiscal legislation.

So what did they do on September 17? It was a day for markup of H.R. 842 (cancer screening), H.R. 4313 (hospital inpatient services), H.R. 5347 (healthcare), H.R. 5343 (medical), H.R. 5349 (Tax Court), H.R. 5346 (IRS reviews), H.R. 5284 (age clarity re Social Security), H.R. 5345 (Social Security), H.R. 5348 (Social Security), and Views and Estimates Letter to the Committee on the Budget.

All well and good, but this close to the September 30 deadline, that’s like snuffing a candle while the house burns down.

Transcript is not yet available, but if you’re interested, video of the meeting is up.

September 17, 2025. 10:00AM(EDT) | 2123 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, D.C. Meeting of House Energy and Commerce Committee, full committee. Markup of Seven Bills, none related to the September 30 deadline. Meeting Details

H.R.5450 - Continuing Appropriations and Extensions and Other Matters Act, 2026. Making continuing appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2026.

Introduced September 18, 2025 by Rosa DeLauro (D-CT). No cosponsors. Stuck in committee.

This is also a long bill. DeLauro proposes that all necessary government activities be funded pending a full appropriations bill. However, her exceptions are notable.

• Regular Defense Department activities are not deemed necessary unless in the prior year’s appropriations (no new expenditures).

• Civilians working for the federal government may be paid (no furlough required).

• Strike “and the President subsequently so designates” (taking back power) from Section 251(b)(2)(A) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 .

• SNAP and WIC programs are deemed necessary and are fully funded.

• NASA and National Science Foundation grants are deemed necessary.

There’s more, but it’s basically a shut-the-government-down-and-do-minimal-harm approach. Of course Speaker Johnson will ignore it!

H.R.5451 - To provide for funding from the Airport and Airway Trust Fund for all Federal Aviation Administration activities for a certain period in the event of a Government shutdown.

Introduced September 18, 2025 by Steve Cohen (D-TN). Cosponsored by André Carson (D-IN). Excludes FAA from government shutdown. And frankly, I am grateful to them for thinking about this!

H.R.5455 - To provide for funding from the Airport and Airway Trust Fund for all Federal Aviation.

Introduced September 18, 2025 by Aaron Bean (R-FL). Cosponsored by Daniel Webster (R-FL).

As of September 26, 2025, the texts for neither H.R.5451 nor H.R.5455 have been uploaded to congress.gov. So it’s impossible to know how they differ. If both merely carve out FAA as ‘necessary and not subject to shutdown,’ then really, please talk to one another, House people!

H.R.5552 - To provide for automatic continuing appropriations.

Introduced September 23, 2025 by Dusty Johnson (R-SD). Cosponsored by Bryan Steil (R-WI). Referred to the Committees on Appropriations and Budget. Text is not available. Stuck in committee.

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