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Congress·Reported·8 months ago

Senate Committee Advances 2026 Legislative Branch Funding Bill, Freezing Congressional Pay

Also known as: Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2026

Legislative Progress

✓ Filed
Review
Senate
House
President

Impacts

Mixed Impacts(2)
Small Business Owner
Neutral
Gig Worker
Neutral
Positive Impacts(7)
Federal Employee
Helps
Disability Benefits
Helps
Sensory Disability
Helps
Pregnant
Helps
Child Tax Credit
Helps
Student
Helps
Student Loans
Helps

Key Points

  • Congress sets the 2026 budget for Senate operations, including staff pay, offices, investigations, and official mail.
  • Funding includes major support for Capitol security, including Capitol Police pay and equipment, plus extra money for Senate member security.
  • Senators’ office budgets must be used within the allowed time; leftover money goes back to the Treasury to help reduce the deficit or federal debt.
  • Members of Congress would not get an automatic cost-of-living pay raise during fiscal year 2026.
  • The bill adds limits like banning certain telecom gear, blocking porn on government networks, and pushing food vendors to cut plastic waste.
InfrastructureNational SecurityLabor EmploymentTelecommunicationsEnvironment

Milestones

1 milestone3 actions
Jul 10, 2025Senate

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 113.

Jul 10, 2025Senate

Committee on Appropriations. Original measure reported to Senate by Senator Mullin. With written report No. 119-38.

Jul 10, 2025

Introduced in Senate

What Happens Next

Projected impacts based on AI analysis

2025-10-01

Funding runs during fiscal year 2026 (Oct 1, 2025 through Sept 30, 2026) for Congress operations, staffing, and support agencies.

Congress and related offices keep operating—staff remain employed, buildings maintained, security provided, and public information services continue.

During FY2026 as Senate offices hire interns

Senate interns can be financially compensated using the $7,000,000 allocation as offices bring interns on during FY2026.

More interns may be able to take Senate internships without working unpaid or needing outside financial support.

Throughout FY2026

Member cost-of-living adjustment is blocked for fiscal year 2026.

Members’ salaries do not automatically increase with inflation during this year.

As overtime spending approaches the cap during FY2026

Capitol Police overtime is capped unless appropriations committees are notified; agencies apply the overtime management rules during FY2026.

Security staffing may rely more on scheduling and hiring strategies; overtime spikes can still happen but trigger oversight notice.

Through 2030

Mutual aid reimbursements and related training can be funded through at least Sept 30, 2030 for transferred and added amounts.

Partner police agencies can be repaid for helping during major events or emergencies around Congress, supporting readiness over multiple years.

During FY2026 as contracts/services are set up and delivered

Free newspaper access for blind and print-disabled residents can be provided under the National Library Service funding.

Eligible residents may receive newspaper access without paying, improving access to daily news and civic information.

Ongoing during FY2026

Congress offices and agencies enforce network filtering that blocks pornography on computer networks, with a law-enforcement exception.

On legislative branch networks, many adult sites would be blocked; exceptions can apply for criminal investigation work.

Ongoing during FY2026

Capitol tour rules limit the ability to restrict staff- and intern-led guided tours unless done through authorized regulations, with security-based temporary suspensions allowed.

Public access through guided tours is more protected from routine cutbacks, but tours can still be limited when security officials say it’s needed.

Related News

6 articles
Politico·9 months ago

GOP Declares War on GAO

House Republicans are proposing a nearly 50% cut to the Government Accountability Office in the FY2026 Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, targeting the nonpartisan watchdog's ability to investigate executive branch spending and enforce the Impoundment Control Act.

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Politico·4 months ago

Senate rolls out $153B for veterans, military construction in bid to break shutdown impasse

Senate appropriators have unveiled a funding package to end the 43-day government shutdown, which includes the full-year Legislative Branch Appropriations Act for 2026. The bill provides $7.3 billion for congressional operations, including significant boosts for Capitol Police and member security.

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NBC News·4 months ago

Senators advance tentative deal to end the government shutdown

A bipartisan group of senators has reached a deal to reopen the government, moving a 'minibus' that includes the 2026 Legislative Branch funding bill. The legislation addresses mounting security concerns for lawmakers and mandates that unspent office budgets be returned to the Treasury.

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Source Information

Document Type

Congressional Bill

Official Title

Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2026

Bill NumberS 2257
Congress119th Congress
ChamberSenate
Latest ActionPlaced on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 113.

Sponsor

Analysis generated by AI. While we strive for accuracy, this should not be considered legal or professional advice. Always verify information with official government sources.