This bill establishes expedited procedures for the House to consider and pass a consolidated appropriations bill for fiscal year 2026.
Virginia Foxx
Representative
NC-5
This bill establishes special, expedited procedures for the House to consider and pass a specific consolidated appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2026 (H.R. 7006). It significantly limits debate time and restricts amendments to only those pre-approved and printed by the Rules Committee. The process is designed to quickly move the major spending bill to a final vote.
| Party | Total Votes | Yes | No | Did Not Vote |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Democrat | 213 | 0 | 210 | 3 |
Republican | 218 | 213 | 0 | 5 |
House Leadership Fast-Tracks $1.8 Trillion Spending Bill: Debate Limited to One Hour, Amendments Pre-Approved
This resolution isn’t about the money itself—it’s about the rules of the game for passing a massive appropriations bill (H.R. 7006), essentially a $1.8 trillion spending package for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2026. What this resolution does is hit the legislative fast-forward button, setting up an extremely tight, expedited process to push this major spending bill through the House. It waives nearly every procedural hurdle that normally allows for robust debate and dissent, clearing the way for a quick final vote.
The One-Hour Clock and the Rules Committee Filter
If you’ve ever tried to debate a complex work proposal with 435 people, you know time is essential. This resolution slices general debate time down to a meager one hour, split between the majority and minority leadership. Think about that: one hour to discuss a bill that dictates how billions of your tax dollars are spent across every government agency. Crucially, the resolution restricts amendments only to those that have been pre-approved and printed by the powerful Rules Committee. This means your local representative can’t just walk onto the floor and offer an amendment that addresses a specific need in your district—unless the Rules Committee already signed off on it. Furthermore, these pre-approved amendments can’t be changed or divided, meaning it’s a take-it-or-leave-it vote on the exact language.
Why This Matters to Your Wallet and Your Vote
This isn't just inside baseball; it’s about legislative oversight. When a bill this large, covering everything from defense spending to food safety, is rushed through, it concentrates power and reduces scrutiny. For the average person, this means that potentially controversial or wasteful spending provisions within H.R. 7006 are less likely to be exposed, debated, or amended. The process itself is designed to benefit the leadership—specifically the Speaker and the Rules Committee—who want to pass the bill quickly and cleanly. They benefit because they control the agenda and the outcomes.
Who gets squeezed? The rank-and-file members of Congress, especially those in the minority party, who are effectively shut out of the amendment process. They lose their ability to meaningfully shape the legislation or even raise major objections. For you, the voter, this means the opportunity for your representative to fight for specific changes or demand explanations on the floor is severely limited. While the goal is to prevent a government shutdown by passing the bill quickly, the cost is a significant reduction in the checks and balances that are supposed to ensure responsible spending of taxpayer money.