- House Republicans kicked off the 119th Congress with a productive start, passing three minibus appropriations bills with strong bipartisan support (397-28) to fund key agencies like Justice, Commerce, Energy, Interior, and the EPA.
- These bills prioritize safer communities, affordable and reliable energy, and responsible resource management, helping avert a potential government shutdown.
- Fiscal conservatives and moderate Democrats successfully stripped wasteful earmarks, including one tied to Rep. Ilhan Omar amid concerns over Minnesota’s Somali fraud scandal.
- House Republicans demonstrated loyalty to President Trump by failing to override his vetoes on two bills—a Colorado water pipeline project and Florida tribal land expansion—viewed as blocking wasteful spending and political grudges.
- In a disappointing move, 17 Republicans joined Democrats in a bipartisan effort to extend expired Affordable Care Act subsidies for three years, bypassing the Speaker.
- The ACA extension is heavily criticized for removing the Hyde Amendment, potentially allowing federal taxpayer funding for abortions—a long-standing conservative red line.
- Senate Republicans, including Sen. Bernie Moreno, oppose the House’s ACA bill and are preparing their own conservative health care reforms.
Read the full story: https://redstate.com/jenniferoo/2026/01/08/congress-is-in-get-er-done-mode-some-of-it-good-for-the-american-people-others-we-can-do-without-n2197930
