The U.S. Senate has moved forward with a measure to reopen the federal government, providing full-year appropriations for Agriculture, Legislative Branch, and Military Construction-Veterans Affairs programs through the end of Fiscal Year 2026. The legislation also includes a Continuing Resolution that will keep other federal agencies funded until January 2026.
Senator Mike Crapo of Idaho, who chairs the Senate Finance Committee, expressed his support for the measure and criticized delays in reaching an agreement. “I voted again today to reopen and fund the federal government. The unserious political games by Senate Democrats placed an undue burden on our servicemembers, small businesses, federal employees and communities that rely on federal resources–all of which could have been avoided,” Crapo said.
Crapo highlighted that three appropriations bills advanced by the Senate would benefit veterans, invest in rural areas, enhance national security, and include cost-saving measures. He called for continued bipartisan cooperation to complete work on remaining appropriations before funding expires in January 2026. “The three appropriations bills we also advanced support our veterans, invest in rural communities, protect our national security and contain needed cost-savings measures. We must continue bipartisan work on the remaining appropriations bills before the January 2026 deadline,” he stated.
Addressing health care costs, Crapo noted concerns about rising insurance premiums and criticized temporary policy extensions as insufficient solutions. “Insurance premiums are skyrocketing because our health care system is broken. Simply extending the temporary Biden COVID bonuses, which account for only four percentage points of the coming premium increases, is not a solution. I remain committed to tackling the root causes of rising health care costs, rather than masking them with more unsustainable spending,” Crapo added.
