07.22.25

Now Is Senate Democrats’ Chance to Prove They’re Serious About Funding the Government

As Senate Republicans Move Forward With Bipartisan Funding Bills, Democrats Are Threatening to Thwart the Bipartisan Appropriations Process They Claim They Want

IN A DEPARTURE FROM THE DEMOCRAT-RUN SENATE OF THE PAST, THE REPUBLICAN SENATE IS SET TO CONSIDER ANNUAL APPROPRIATIONS BILLS ON THE FLOOR FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 2023

  • This month, four appropriations bills passed out of the Senate Appropriations Committee with bipartisan support:
    • Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act (passed 27-0). (U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations: Senate Committee Approves FY 2026 Agriculture Appropriations Bill – 7/10/25)
    • Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act (passed 26-3). (U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations: Senate Committee Approves FY 2026 MilCon-VA Appropriations Bill – 7/17/25)
    • Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act (passed 19-10). (U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations: Senate Committee Approves FY 2026 Commerce, Justice, and Science Appropriations Bill – 7/17/25)
  • Last year, despite the Senate Appropriations Committee passing 11 of the 12 annual appropriations bills on a bipartisan basis, then-Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) chose to not bring a single one to the floor. (CNN: Trump’s presidency moves into a new phase with a critical test of his power in Congress – 3/10/25; Punchbowl News: AM: The appropriations mess rolls on – 7/31/24; Congressional Research Service: Appropriations Status Table: FY2025 – accessed 7/21/25)
  • Instead, Schumer spent much of the Senate’s floor time in 2024 on political “show votes,” making the Senate shirk its core functions of appropriations: “[I]t means that all 100 senators don’t have a chance to shape the final [spending] product. That can only be done on the floor.” (Punchbowl News: AM: The appropriations mess rolls on – 7/31/24; Axios: Schumer's 2024 "show vote" strategy targets GOP – 6/6/24)
  • The federal government is currently operating on a continuing resolution because of Schumer’s antics last year. (U.S. Congress: H.R.1968 - Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025 – 3/10/25)

THE FOUR ANNUAL APPROPRIATIONS BILLS RIPE FOR FLOOR CONSIDERATION SUPPORT VITAL PROGRAMS, INCLUDING FUNDING FOR FARMERS, RURAL AMERICA, THE MILITARY, VETERANS, AND LAW ENFORCEMENT

  • The FY2026 Legislative Branch Appropriations Act funds the U.S. Capitol Police force, the Library of Congress, and other agencies that support Congress. (U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations: Senate Committee Approves FY 2026 Legislative Branch Appropriations Bill – 7/10/25)
  • The FY2026 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act has several wins for America’s farmers and rural communities:
    • “$3.6 billion for agricultural research programs, including $1.9 billion for the Agricultural Research Service and $1.7 billion for the National Institute of Food and Agriculture… These investments will ensure that America maintains our competitive edge in terms of agricultural production and innovation.”
    • “$1.6 billion for the [Farm Service Agency]. This includes funding to support $10.5 billion of farm loans to ensure that our producers have access to necessary capital.”
    • “$3.7 billion to support rural development programs across the U.S., including $1.7 billion for affordable housing rental assistance for low-income families and seniors in rural communities as requested by the Administration.”
    • “$8.2 billion for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children to ensure that that the low-income mothers and their babies have access to healthy and nutritious foods and $425 million for the Commodity Supplemental Food Program to assist our low-income seniors.” (U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations: Senate Committee Approves FY 2026 Agriculture Appropriations Bill – 7/10/25)
  • The FY2026 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act includes vital funding for America’s servicemembers and veterans:
    • “$19.8 billion for the Department of Defense military construction program. This amount funds more than 280 projects at military bases and installations around the world to enhance resiliency and support warfighter readiness. Within this amount, the bill provides $1.9 billion to improve and maintain housing for servicemembers and their families.”
    • “$113.8 billion in discretionary funding for VA medical care. Combined with $49.8 billion from the Toxic Exposures Fund, VA will have $163.6 billion to care for veterans. This funding includes: $18.9 billion for mental health; $6.4 billion for telehealth services; $3.5 billion for veterans homelessness programs; $3.5 billion for the Caregivers Program; $943 million for medical and prosthetic research; $1.4 billion for health care specifically for women veterans; and $342 million for rural health initiatives.” (U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations: Senate Committee Approves FY 2026 MilCon-VA Appropriations Bill – 7/17/25)
  • The FY2026 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act provides funding for U.S. Marshals, the Drug Enforcement Agency, U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, and numerous state and local law enforcement programs. (U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations: Senate Committee Approves FY 2026 Commerce, Justice, and Science Appropriations Bill – 7/17/25)

 

YET SENATE DEMOCRATS HAVE CAST DOUBT ON SUPPORTING A BIPARTISAN APPROPRIATIONS PROCESS AND ARE INSTEAD THREATING TO SHUT DOWN THE GOVERNMENT

“[I]t is absurd for them to expect Democrats to act as business as usual and engage in a bipartisan appropriations process to fund the government, while they concurrently plot to pass a purely partisan rescissions bill.” – Senate Democrat Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.)

  • “Passing the bills would achieve what Senate Democrats say they want — a bipartisan appropriations process.” (Punchbowl News: AM: Congress crawls toward August – 7/21/25)
  • “But top Democrats are casting doubt on the notion of helping Republicans pass any of them.” (Punchbowl News: AM: Congress crawls toward August – 7/21/25)
  • “Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer is warning Republicans they'll risk a government shutdown all alone,” and to not expect “business as usual.” (Axios: GOP cuts trigger Democratic warnings on government shutdowns – 7/9/25; The Hill: Republicans fear Washington headed for shutdown after bruising spending fights – 7/21/25)
  • “For now, Schumer is staying mum about Senate Democrats’ strategy. He deflected multiple times Thursday when asked how Democrats would handle upcoming funding votes. Yet Democrats sure seem like they’re gearing up for a shutdown fight, especially after the debacle in March.” (Punchbowl News: AM: Thune tees up key test vote for shutdown fight – 7/18/25)