BOOM: House & Senate Dems introduce THEIR budget bill to avoid a gov't shutdown, and I'm happy to say...

With the ongoing budget battle approaching the Sept. 30th federal government shut down deadline, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) and U.S. Representative Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-03) have formally introduced a bicameral Continuing Resolution bill to fund the government for an extra month to buy more time to negotiate and avoid a shutdown by the Republican-controlled federal government:

ashington, D.C. — Today, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chair, and Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-03), House Appropriations Committee Ranking Member, introduced a continuing resolution (CR) to keep the government funded and allow negotiations to continue over full-year bills that ensure Congress, not President Trump or Russ Vought, decide how taxpayer dollars are spent. The CR also addresses the health care crisis Republicans have single-handedly created and protects Congress’ power of the purse, rejecting President Trump’s illegal “pocket rescission.”

In a statement, Vice Chair Murray and Ranking Member DeLauro said:

“While Republicans push America to the brink of a shutdown, Democrats are ready to negotiate a bipartisan continuing resolution and government funding bills that lower the cost of living, help working people—not just billionaires—and protect people’s health care.

“Today, we are introducing a short-term continuing resolution to keep the government funded, address the health care crisis Republicans have single-handedly created, and protect Congress’ power of the purse. If Republicans are willing to simply sit down and talk with Democrats, a concept most Americans understand, we can address these pressing issues affecting American families and responsibly fund the government.

“We invite Republican leadership to finally join Democratic leadership at the negotiating table, which they have refused for weeks to do, to prevent a shutdown and begin bipartisan negotiations to keep the government funded.”

The short-term continuing resolution (CR):

• Keeps the government funded through October 31 to avert a Republican shutdown and allow bipartisan negotiations to continue over full-year spending bills that ensure Congress—not President Trump and Russ Vought—determines how taxpayer dollars are spent.
  • This includes allowing more time for talks on the first three spending bills that conference negotiations have already begun over: the Agriculture-FDA, Legislative Branch, and Military Construction-VA spending bills.

• Addresses the health care crisis that President Trump and Republican lawmakers have single-handedly created by:
  • Reversing Republicans’ devastating Medicaid cuts and attacks on the Affordable Care Act in their Big Ugly Betrayal.
  • Preventing Americans’ health care premiums from skyrocketing by extending the premium tax credits that help over 20 million Americans afford health insurance.

• Addresses President Trump’s illegal pocket rescission and protects any spending agreement from unilateral partisan cuts.

• Provides additional funding to enhance security protections for Members of Congress, executive branch officials, and the judiciary.

GOOD, but the devil is in the details, which is where the summary comes in...

(scroll down awhile to get to the healthcare-specific provisions...in particular, SUBTITLE E):

Continuing Appropriations and Extensions and Other Matters Act, 2026 Section-by-Section Summary

DIVISION A – CONTINUING APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2026

Section 101. Extension of FY 2026 Funding with Certain Exceptions.

Appropriates funding at the levels and under the conditions provided in the fiscal year 2025 Full Year Continuing Appropriations Act (2025 Full Year CR) for continuing projects and activities, excluding sections 1110 (dealing with emergency and disaster relief recommendations), 1113 (dealing with departmental and agency spending/operating plans), and 1114 (dealing with Office of Management and Budget (OMB) reports on obligations by departments and agencies) of the 2025 Full Year CR.

Section 102. Prevention of New or Accelerated Production and New Multi-Year Activities at DOD.

Prevents the Department of Defense (DOD) from using funds provided by the continuing resolution (CR) for new or accelerated production of certain projects and other new starts and activities. It also prevents DOD from initiating certain multi-year procurements.

Section 103. Terms and Conditions.

States that funds provided by section 101 shall be available to the extent and in the manner that would be provided in the pertinent appropriations Act.

Section 104. Prevention of New Starts and Activities.

Prevents appropriations provided by the CR from being used for new starts and new activities.

Section 105. Technical Budget Matter.

Contains technical budget matter providing that appropriations in the CR are to be used to conduct fiscal year 2026 activities and programs during the CR period.

Section 106. End Date of CR.

Continues the appropriations and authorities provided by the CR through the earlier of October 31, 2025, or the enactment of the applicable appropriation Act.

Section 107. Requirement to Charge CR Spending to Enacted Full-Year Appropriations Bill.

Requires that spending under the CR be charged to the full-year appropriations bill when such bill is enacted.

Section 108. Apportionment Timing During the CR.

Waives the normal time limitations for submission and approval of apportionments of accounts given the duration of a part-year CR.

Section 109. Expenditures for Grant Programs and Similar Payments.

Prevents agencies from spending money too quickly for grant programs and similar payments to preserve Congress’s final funding prerogatives, as Congress has not made final funding determinations for fiscal year 2026.

Section 110. Funding Shall be Spent in the Most Limited Manner Possible.

Reiterates that funding shall be spent in the most limited manner possible to continue projects and activities, as Congress has not made final funding determinations for fiscal year 2026.

Section 111. Prohibition on Implementing President’s Budget Requests During a CR.

Prohibits the Administration from implementing the President’s budget request to increase, eliminate, or reduce funding for a program, project, or activity until such proposed change is enacted in an appropriation Act.

Section 112. Operations of Mandatory Programs and Appropriated Entitlements.

Continues mandatory programs and appropriated entitlements at current program levels, including activities funded by the Cost of War Toxic Exposures Fund. In the case of a government shutdown after the CR end date in section 106, provides certain programs with funding for payments that occur on or about the first day of the month and are due not later than 30 days following the expiration of the CR.

Section 113. Restrictions on Furloughs or Termination of Employees.

Permits funds provided by the CR to be apportioned up to a rate for operations necessary to avoid furloughs, after the agency has taken all necessary action to reduce or defer non-personnel-related administrative expenses.

Section 114. Waiver Language for Intelligence Programs.

Provides waiver language for certain intelligence programs as well as agencies that operate under the State Department Basic Authorities Act and Foreign Relations Authorization Act.

Section 115. Redesignation of Specially Designated Emergency and Disaster Relief Funds.

Redesignates previously designated emergency funds and disaster relief funds and removes Presidential control over emergency funding. With the expiration of the statutory caps on discretionary spending under the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023, the redesignations are for Congressional scorekeeping only.

Section 116. Making Available the Full Amount of Funds Designated as an Emergency in the 2025 Full Year CR.

Reverses illegal action by the White House to designate some funds provided in the 2025 Full Year CR as an emergency while not designating others. This resulted in $2.9 billion in funds provided by Congress not being made available for obligation, and $9.4 billion that is being illegally spent without Congressional approval. In addition, amends statute to remove the President’s authority to refuse Congress emergency designations.

Section 117. Oversight for OMB and Agency Execution of Specified Funding Levels.

Requires a report from OMB detailing how Congressionally mandated rescissions or cancellations continued by this Act are carried out.

Section 118. Extending the Period of Availability for Funds Mismanaged by the Office of Management and Budget, including Funds Unlawfully Frozen by the President’s So-Called “Pocket Rescission.”

Extends the availability of certain funds expiring on September 30, 2025, that were inappropriately constrained by the Office of Management and Budget. Addresses any funding OMB withheld from agencies after June 30, or funding OMB withheld from agency use with preconditions at any point between June 30 and September 30, including all funds frozen by OMB in response to the President’s so-called “pocket rescission.” Requires reports from OMB and the Comptroller General of the United States on the execution of this provision and removes all implicated funds from OMB control.

Section 119. Application of the Impoundment Control Act.

Permanently turns off the fast-track procedures under the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974, ensuring bipartisan funding agreements cannot be undone on a partisan basis. Prevents future mismanagement of funds by prohibiting OMB from inappropriately constraining agencies in the final 90 days before the expiration of funding.

Section 120. Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).

Provides authority to the Department of Agriculture to spend at a rate for operations of $8.2 billion to maintain participation in the WIC program.

Section 121. Livestock Mandatory Reporting Act of 1999.

Extends the Livestock Mandatory Reporting Act of 1999 for the duration of the CR.

Section 122. Extension of Expired Space Shuttle Funds.

Extends through fiscal year 2030 the authority for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to use amounts that have expired but have not been cancelled for the liquidation of obligations of Space Shuttle contracts and associated programs. The authority is limited to obligations incurred during the period of fiscal years 2001 through 2013.

Section 123. Continuation of NASA Science Missions.

Ensures the continuation of missions under development or formulation by the Science Mission Directorate of NASA through the length of the CR.

Section 124. Apportionment of NSF Funds.

Requires amounts made available to the National Science Foundation (NSF) be apportioned at a rate for operations necessary to maintain research facilities and scientific awards at current levels.

Section 125. Apportionment of NOAA Operations, Research, and Facilities.

Requires amounts made available to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to be apportioned at a rate for operations necessary to maintain research laboratories, cooperative institutes, and scientific awards of the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research at current levels.

Section 126. NIST Manufacturing Extension Partnership.

Requires the Secretary of Commerce to renew all cooperative agreements under the Manufacturing Extension Partnership during the period covered by the CR under the same terms and conditions as the previous agreement, unless requested otherwise by the eligible entity.

Section 127. U.S. Marshals Service Spend Fast.

Provides the Department of Justice the flexibility to spend at a faster rate of operations in the U.S. Marshals Service account to sustain certain operations.

Section 128. U.S. Marshals Service Protective Security.

Appropriates $30 million in additional funds to the U.S. Marshals Service, including $7 million for protective operations and $23 million to enhance the Federal judicial security mission.

Section 129. U.S. Marshals Service Construction.

Appropriates $30 million in additional funds to the U.S. Marshals Services for construction to support critical courthouse security renovations and upgrades and to secure prisoner movement areas.

Section 130. U.S Parole Commission.

Extends the authorization for the U.S. Parole Commission for the duration of the CR.

Section 131. Virginia Class Submarine Program.

Provides for a rate for operations necessary to fund completion of prior year shipbuilding programs for the 4 fiscal year 2016 and fiscal year 2018 Virginia Class Submarine Programs, in an amount not to exceed $154,000,000.

Section 132. Air Force E-7 Wedgetail Aircraft Program.

Requires the apportionment of amounts at a rate for operations necessary for the E-7 Wedgetail program, in an amount not to exceed $200 million, to maintain program schedule and transition to production for the E-7 Wedgetail program.

Section 133. National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) Secure Transportation.

Provides for a rate for operations of $149 million for the NNSA’s mission to safely move weapons, material, and components.

Section 134. Extension of Bureau of Reclamation Calfed Bay-Delta Authorization.

Extends the authorities of the Calfed Bay-Delta Program and increases its funding authorization ceiling.

Section 135. Department of Energy Programs.

Requires the Administration to obligate and expend funds for programs, projects, and activities for certain accounts within the Department of Energy consistent with specifications included in the fiscal year 2024 appropriations Act.

Section 136. Requirement for Department of Energy to Meet Hanford Site Legal Obligations.

Requires the Department of Energy to meet legal obligations under the Hanford Federal Facility consent decree regarding completion of the hot commissioning facility at Hanford by October 15.

Section 137. Small Business Administration (SBA) Business Loans Program.

Provides SBA with the authority to accommodate increased demand for certain small business loan programs during the period of the CR to ensure financing is not delayed for small businesses.

Section 138. District of Columbia Local Funds.

Authorizes the District of Columbia to spend its locally raised revenue for programs and activities at rates provided for in the District’s Fiscal Year 2026 Local Budget Act of 2025. Prevents the cuts caused by the FY2025 Full Year CR.

Section 139. Defender Services.

Provides for a rate for operations of $1.535 billion for “The Judiciary—Courts of Appeals, District Courts, and Other Judicia Services—Defender Services,” with the requirement that funds be apportioned to make payments due under section 3006A of Title 18, United States Code.

Section 140. Department of the Treasury Office of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence.

Provides for a rate for operations of $238 million for the Office of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence within the Department of the Treasury.

Section 141. Implementation of Postal Health Benefits.

Provides for an increase in the limitation on trust fund transfers, offset by a corresponding decrease in general fund transfers, for the Office of Personnel Management Salaries and Expense account to assist in the administration of the Postal Service Health Benefits Program.

Section 142. Senior Political Pay Freeze.

Continues the freeze on senior political pay for the Vice President and employees serving in an Executive 5 Schedule and Senior Executive Service position through the end of the year and into the beginning of 2026.

Section 143. Inspector General of the Office of Management and Budget.

Establishes a new Inspector General of the Office of Management and Budget to investigate actions taken by OMB and appropriates $20 million for necessary expenses of the new Office.

Section 144. U.S. Supreme Court Protective Security.

Appropriates $28 million in additional funds to the Supreme Court Salaries and Expenses for protection of the residences of the Supreme Court Justices.

Section 145. Court Security.

Appropriates $52 million in additional funds to the Judiciary’s Court Security account for security improvements at U.S. courthouses and federal court facilities.

Section 146. Disaster Relief Fund.

Allows the Federal Emergency Management Agency the flexibility to spend at a faster rate for operations from the Disaster Relief Fund during the duration of the CR to carry out response and recovery activities for declared disasters.

Section 147. Reimbursable Screening Services Program (RSSP).

Extends authorization for the Transportation Security Administration’s RSSP through the period of the CR.

Section 148. Firefighter Pay Cap Waiver.

Extends the authority for the Department of Agriculture and the Department of the Interior to waive the premium pay cap limitation (for overtime and hazard pay) for wildland fire personnel.

Section 149. Wildland Fire Management Suppression Operations.

Provides flexibility to the Forest Service to spend at a faster rate for operations in the Wildland Fire Management Suppression account necessary for wildfire suppression operations.

Section 150. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) Contribution Authority.

Extends the authority of BOEM to accept contributions for environmental and technical work.

Section 151. Indian Health Service New Facility Staffing.

Provides for an increased rate for operations to the Indian Health Services of roughly $80 million, and the authority to obligate funds at rate for operations necessary to support staffing and operating costs at facilities that were opened, renovated, or expanded in fiscal years 2025 and 2026.

Section 152. Puerto Rico School Payments.

Authorizes Forest Service employees in Puerto Rico to continue to receive support for their children’s schooling.

Section 153. Pittman-Robertson Act Interest-Bearing Account.

Extends the authority for the Department of the Interior to obligate the interest earned on unexpended PittmanRobertson funds for migratory bird and habitat conservation.

Section 154. Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

Appropriates and restores $491 million to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting for fiscal year 2026.

Section 155. Head Start Grants to the Compact of Free Association States.

Provides the Department of Health and Human Services with the base grant authority and amount needed to reinstate eligibility for the Head Start program in the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of Marshall Islands. Sections 156-158. Payment of Widows and Heirs of Deceased Members of Congress. Directs payments to widows or heirs of recently deceased Members of Congress.

Section 159. Member Pay Freeze.

Continues the freeze on the salaries of Members of Congress through the period of the CR.

Section 160. Legislative Branch Security.

Appropriates additional funds for security in the amounts of $90 million to the House Sergeant at Arms for enhanced Member security; $66.5 million to the Senate Sergeant of Arms and Doorkeeper, of which $53 million is for enhanced Member security, $3.5 million is for the residential security system program, and $10 million is for State office security related activities; and $30 million to the U.S. Capitol Police for reimbursements for mutual aid and related training.

Section 161. Native American Veteran Direct Loan Program.

Provides a rate of operations of roughly $7 million for subsidy costs and a loan limitation of $75 million to allow the Native American Veteran Direct Loan Program to continue operations.

Section 162. European Bank for Reconstruction and Development General Capital Increase Authorization.

Authorizes the United States to subscribe to an increase in capital at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

Section 163. Essential Air Service.

Provides flexibility to the Department of Transportation to spend at a faster rate of operations to maintain Essential Air Service program operations.

Section 164. Extending the Availability of Certain Highway Infrastructure Program Funding.

Extends the period of availability for certain infrastructure grants under the Highway Infrastructure Programs account.

Section 165. Tenant-Based Rental Assistance.

Provides flexibility to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to use fiscal year 2026 amounts available within Tenant-Based Rental Assistance to prevent the termination of rental assistance for families because of insufficient funding in the calendar year 2025 funding cycle.

Section 166. Renewal of Continuum of Care Grants.

Requires that HUD renew all existing Continuum of Care grants expiring during calendar year 2026 for one 12- month period.

Section 167. Extending the Availability of Fair Housing Grants.

Extends the period of availability for funds provided to HUD for Fair Housing Activities to ensure funding for the completion of awards made pursuant to the fiscal year 2024 fair housing initiatives program.

Now we get into the actual healthcare policy-related provisions...

DIVISION B—EXTENSIONS AND OTHER MATTERS

TITLE I—HEALTH

SUBTITLE A—PUBLIC HEALTH EXTENDERS

Section 2101. Extension for Community Health Centers,

National Health Service Corps, and Teaching Health Centers that Operate GME Programs. Reauthorizes the Community Health Center Fund, the National Health Service Corps, and the Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education program through October 31, 2025.

Section 2102. Extension of Special Diabetes Programs.

Reauthorizes the Special Diabetes Program for Type I Diabetes and the Special Diabetes Program for Indians through October 31, 2025.

Section 2103. National Health Security Extensions.

Reauthorizes certain existing authorities related to emergency preparedness and response activities and functions through October 31, 2025.

Section 2104. Additional Programs.

Extends authority for and adds funding to the No Surprises Act Implementation Fund to sustain operations that protect consumers and improve health care price transparency.These include activities that are not directly funded by the Independent Dispute Resolution Administrative fee. This section would also extend authority and funding for the National Technical Assistance Center on Grandfamilies and Kinship Families which enhances the capacity and effectiveness of states, territories, tribes and tribal organizations, and community-based organizations to support grandparents and other relatives who are raising children

SUBTITLE B—MEDICARE

Section 2111. Extension of Increased Inpatient Hospital Payment Adjustment for Certain Low-Volume Hospitals.

Extends the Medicare low-volume hospital payment adjustment through October 31, 2025.

Section 2112. Extension of the Medicare-Dependent Hospital (MDH) Program.

Extends the Medicare-Dependent Hospital (MDH) program through October 31, 2025.

Section 2113. Extension of Add-On Payments for Ambulance Services.

Extends Medicare ground ambulance add-on payments through October 31, 2025.

Section 2114. Extension of Funding for Quality Measure Endorsement, Input and Selection.

Provides funding to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for quality measure selection and to contract with a consensus-based entity to carry out duties related to quality measure endorsement, input, and selection activities through October 31, 2025.

Section 2115. Extension of Funding Outreach and Assistance for Low-Income Programs.

Provides funding for State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIPs), Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs), Aging and Disability Resource Centers (ADRCs), and a contract with an entity to inform older Americans about benefits available under Federal and State programs through October 31, 2025. 8

Section 2116. Extension of the Work Geographic Index Floor.

Extends the 1.0 work Geographic Practice Cost Index (GPCI) floor used in the calculation of payments under the Medicare physician fee schedule through October 31, 2025.

Section 2117. Extension of Certain Telehealth Flexibilities.

Extends Medicare telehealth flexibilities that were extended in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, through October 31, 2025.

Section 2118. Extending Acute Hospital Care at Home Waiver Authorities.

Extends the Acute Hospital Care at Home initiative, as currently authorized under CMS waivers and flexibilities, through October 31, 2025.

Section 2119. Extension of Temporary Inclusion of Authorized Oral Antiviral Drugs as Covered Part D Drugs.

Extends Medicare Part D coverage of certain oral antiviral drugs through October 31, 2025.

Section 2120. Medicare Improvement Fund.

Adjusts the amount of funding in the Medicare Improvement Fund from $1.804 billion to $1.033 billion.

SUBTITLE C—HUMAN SERVICES

Section 2121. Sexual Risk Avoidance Education Extension.

Extends the Sexual Risk Avoidance Education (SRAE) program under Title V of the Social Security Act through October 31, 2025.

Section 2122. Personal Responsibility Education Extension.

Extends the Personal Responsibility Education Program (PREP) under Title V of the Social Security Act through October 31, 2025. Section 2123. Extension of Funding for Family-to-Family Health Information Centers. Extends funding for the Family-to-Family Health Information Centers Program through October 31, 2025.

SUBTITLE D—MEDICAID

Section 2131. Modifying Certain Disproportionate Share Hospital Allotments.

Delays the Medicaid Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH) allotment reductions set to go into effect on September 30th through October 31, 2025. This section also funds and authorizes Tennessee to make Medicaid DSH payments until October 31, 2025 (Tennessee’s DSH allotments expire at the end of FY 2025).

Section 2132. Extension of Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic Demonstration Programs.

Extends the Medicaid demonstration program through October 31, 2025, for community behavioral health clinics that meet the federally designated certified community behavioral health clinic (CCBHC) criteria in the six states (MO, NV, NJ, NY, OK, OR) for which the demonstration ends on September 30, 2025.

OK, here we go...

SUBTITLE E–-OTHER HEALTH PROVISIONS

Section 2141. Repeal of Health Subtitle Changes.

Repeals Subtitle B, or the Health Title, of title VII of the Act titled “An Act to provide for reconciliation pursuant to title II of H. Con. Res. 14” (Public Law 119-21).

This one may seem like an obscure, minor tweak, but it's actually MASSIVE.

"An Act to provide for reconciliation pursuant to title II of H. Con. Res. 14" is the official legal name of...The One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

And repealing Subtitle B (Health) of Title VII of the OBBBA would...repeal basically every change the GOP made to Medicaid, Medicare and the ACA a few months ago:

This would repeal the Big Ugly Bill sections which gut Medicaid...

• Moratorium on implementation of rule relating to eligibility and enrollment in Medicare Savings Programs.
• Moratorium on implementation of rule relating to eligibility and enrollment for Medicaid, CHIP, and the Basic Health Program.
• Reducing duplicate enrollment under the Medicaid and CHIP programs.
• Ensuring deceased individuals do not remain enrolled.
• Ensuring deceased providers do not remain enrolled.
• Payment reduction related to certain erroneous excess payments under Medicaid.
• Eligibility redeterminations.
• Revising home equity limit for determining eligibility for long-term care services under the Medicaid program.
• Alien Medicaid eligibility.
• Expansion FMAP for emergency Medicaid.
• Moratorium on implementation of rule relating to staffing standards for long-term care facilities under the Medicare and Medicaid programs.
• Reducing State Medicaid costs.
• Federal payments to prohibited entities.
• Sunsetting increased FMAP incentive.
• Provider taxes.
• State directed payments.
• Requirements regarding waiver of uniform tax requirement for Medicaid provider tax.
• Requiring budget neutrality for Medicaid demonstration projects under section 1115.
• Requirement for States to establish Medicaid community engagement requirements for certain individuals.
• Modifying cost sharing requirements for certain expansion individuals under the Medicaid program.
• Making certain adjustments to coverage of home or community- based services under Medicaid.

...the sections which damage Medicare...

• Limiting Medicare coverage of certain individuals.
• Temporary payment increase under the medicare physician fee schedule to account for exceptional circumstances.
• Expanding and clarifying the exclusion for orphan drugs under the Drug Price Negotiation Program.

...the sections which damage the ACA...

• Permitting premium tax credit only for certain individuals.
• Disallowing premium tax credit during periods of medicaid ineligibility due to alien status.
• Requiring verification of eligibility for premium tax credit.
• Disallowing premium tax credit in case of certain coverage enrolled in during special enrollment period.
• Eliminating limitation on recapture of advance payment of premium tax credit.
• Permanent extension of safe harbor for absence of deductible for telehealth services.
• Allowance of bronze and catastrophic plans in connection with health savings accounts.
• Treatment of direct primary care service arrangements.

...as well as the Rural Health Slush Fund:

• Rural Health Transformation Program.

And of course there's this provision regarding my biggest personal issue:

Section 2142. Permanent Extension of Enhanced Tax Credit.

Permanently extends the Affordable Care Act enhanced premium tax credit by striking the 400% income limit from Subparagraph (A) of section 36B(c)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

BOOM, there it is: Not a one year extension, not a two year extension, but a permanent extension of the current Advance Premium Tax Credit (APTC) levels, period.

Again: While this was originally done as part of a COVID pandemic emergency bill, the reality is that all this does is bring the ACA tax credits up to the levels they should have been in the first place 15 years ago.

TITLE II—VETERANS AFFAIRS

Section 2201. Extension of Requirement to Provide Nursing Home Care to Certain Veterans with ServiceConnected Disabilities.

Extends VA’s authority to provide nursing home care to veterans with a service-connected disability rated at 70 percent or more or who require nursing home care for their service-connected disability from September 30, 2025, to October 31, 2025.

Section 2202. Extension of Authority for Secretary of Veterans Affairs to Transport Individuals to and from Facilities of Department of Veterans Affairs.

Extends VA’s authority to provide critical transportation services through its Veterans Transportation Services Program for veterans traveling to and from medical appointments from September 30, 2025, to October 31, 2025.

Section 2203. Extension of Funding for Financial Assistance for Supportive Services for Very Low-Income Veteran Families in Permanent Housing.

Extends VA’s authority to operate the Supportive Services for Veteran Families program, a grant program for community organizations that provides support to very low-income veteran families experiencing or at risk of homelessness through rapid housing, rental assistance, case management, and other services from the end of fiscal year 2025 to October 31, 2025.

Section 2204. Extension of Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program.

Extends VA’s authority under the Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act of 2019 (P.L. 116-171) to carry out the Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program, from September 30, 2025, to October 31, 2025.

Section 2205. Extension of Authority to Maintain Regional Office in Republic of Philippines.

Extends VA’s authority to maintain a Veterans Benefits Administration regional office in the Republic of the Philippines from September 30, 2025, to October 31, 2025.

Section 2206. Extension of Requirement Relating to Restoration of Entitlement to Educational Assistance in Cases of Closure or Disapproval of Educational Institutions.

Extends VA’s authority to allow students to keep their GI Bill or other VA education benefits if a school closes or is disapproved by VA from September 30, 2025, to October 31, 2025.

Section 2207. Extension of Authority for Treatment and Rehabilitation for Seriously Mentally Ill and Homeless Veterans.

Extends VA’s authority to operate the Health Care for Homeless Veterans program, which provides outreach, case management, residential treatment, and community partner coordination and resources to homeless veterans from September 30, 2025, to October 31, 2025.

Section 2208. Extension of Funding for Grant Program for Homeless Veterans with Special Needs.

Extends VA’s authority to operate a grant program to assist community organizations that serve homeless 10 veterans with special needs, including women veterans, veterans who are elderly, terminally ill, mentally ill, or care for children from the end of fiscal year 2025 to October 31, 2025.

Section 2209. Extension of Authority for Collection of Copayments for Hospital Care and Nursing Home Care.

Extends VA’s authority to collect copayments for inpatient hospital and nursing home care from September 30, 2025, to October 31, 2025.

Section 2210. Extension of funding for expansion of Rural Access Network for Growth Enhancement Program.

Extends VA’s authority under the Sgt. Ketchum Rural Mental Health Act of 2021 (P.L. 117-21) to establish and maintain three Rural Access Network for Growth Enhancement Program centers from the end of fiscal year 2025 to October 31, 2025.

Section 2211. Extension of Authority to Provide Assistance for Specially Adapted Housing for Disabled Veterans Residing Temporarily in Housing Owned by A Family Member.

Extends VA’s authority to assist certain disabled veterans temporarily residing with family members to modify their homes to meet their unique disability needs from September 30, 2025, to October 31, 2025.

Section 2212. Extension of Authority for Specially Adapted Housing Assistive Technology Grant Program.

Extends VA’s authority to operate a grant program that encourages the development of specially adapted house assistive technology that enables more disabled veterans to live independently from September 30, 2025, to October 31, 2025.

Section 2213. Extension of authorization of appropriations for homeless women veterans and homeless veterans with Children Reintegration Grant Program.

Extends the annual authorization of $1,000,000 for a grant program operated by the Department of Labor which supports organizations that connect homeless veterans with long-term, meaningful employment from fiscal year 2025 to October 31, 2025.

Section 2214. Extension of Authority Relating to Vendee Loan Program.

Extends VA’s authority to use a certain percentage of real property acquired by the Secretary because of a default on guaranteed loans to offer qualified borrowers the option of purchasing VA Real Estate Owned (REO) properties with little to no money down, from September 30, 2025, to October 31, 2025.

Section 2215. Extension of Subpoena Authority of Inspector General of Department of Veterans Affairs.

Extends the VA Office of Inspector General’s authority to subpoena relevant witnesses' attendance and testimony as necessary to carry out the office's duties from September 30, 2025, to October 31, 2025.

Section 2216. Extension of Authority for Transfer of Real Property.

Extends VA’s authority to transfer unneeded or unused Department property to organizations that offer services to homeless veterans, organizations engaged in historic preservation, or Native American tribes from September 30, 2025, to October 31, 2025.

TITLE III—MISCELLANEOUS EXTENSIONS

Section 2301. Commodity Futures Trading Commission Whistleblower Program.

Extends authorization for the separate account created by Pub. L. 117–25, as subsequently amended, to fund the administrative, programmatic, and personnel expenses of the Whistleblower Office and the Office of Customer 11 Education and Outreach of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”). Authorizes the CFTC to obligate amounts without further appropriation to ensure continuity of operations in the event the Customer Protection Fund is depleted due to payment of whistleblower awards. The authorization currently expires on September 30, 2025.

Section 2302. Forest Service Participation in ACES Program.

Extends the authority for the Forest Service to use the Agriculture Conservation Experienced Services (ACES) program. This authorization currently expires on September 30, 2025.

Section 2303. Food for Peace Act.

Extends authorities in Food for Peace. This authorization currently expires on September 30, 2025.

Section 2304. United States Grain Standards Act.

Extends authorities in the United States Grain Standards Act. This authorization currently expires on September 30, 2025.

Section 2305. Extension of Defense Production Act of 1950.

Extends the authorization of the Defense Production Act of 1950. This authorization currently expires on September 30, 2025.

Section 2306. Alternative Fuel Vehicles in HOV Lanes.

Public authorities operating High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes may permit electric and alternative fuel vehicles to use those lanes, but this authority expires on September 30, 2025. This section extends this authority to the end of October.

Section 2307. Eligibility of Certain Projects Under the TIFIA Program.

The IIJA expanded TIFIA loan eligibility to airport improvement projects, provided that the Secretary receives a letter of interest and determines eligibility for a project before September 30, 2025. This section extends the eligibility to the end of October.

Section 2308. Protection of Certain Facilities and Assets from Unmanned Aircraft.

Extends DHS and DOJ’s existing authority to counter credible unmanned aircraft system (UAS) threats to large public gatherings and certain facilities, assets, and individuals in the U.S. Among other missions, DHS and DOJ components use the authority to protect against UAS posing credible threats at Special Event Assessment Rating (SEAR)/National Special Security Events (NSSE) events, detect and mitigate drones used for smuggling at our nation’s borders, and to detect and prevent the introduction of weapons, cell phones, escape tools, and contraband via drone at prisons. This authorization currently expires on September 30, 2025.

Section 2309. National Cybersecurity Protection System Authorization.

Extends the authorization for CISA to provide federal agencies with cybersecurity services. NCPS, which includes EINSTEIN – a cyberattack detection and blocking service - is a suite of technical cybersecurity services that federal civilian executive branch agencies can use to maintain situational awareness and prevent attacks. Without an extension of this authorization, CISA will not have the authority to provide services on federal executive branch networks, nor would CISA be able to use the technical threat information from one agency to protect other agencies or share the threat information with the private sector. This authorization currently expires on September 30, 2025.

Section 2310. State And Local Cybersecurity Grant Program.

Extends grant funding to state, local, tribal, and territorial (SLTT) governments to address cybersecurity risks and 12 cybersecurity threats to SLTT-owned or operated systems. This funding is used for programs such as training personnel on how to protect against cyber incidents, developing cybersecurity policies and programs, scanning state and local networks for vulnerabilities, and procuring cyber defensive equipment. This authorization currently expires on September 30, 2025.

Section 2311. Cybersecurity Information Sharing.

Extends liability protections and privacy safeguards that encourage information sharing related to cybersecurity threat detection between the public and private sector. This authorization currently expires on September 30, 2025.

Section 2312. Additional Special Assessment.

This provision extends the special assessment of $5,000 on nonindigent persons or entities convicted of certain offenses involving sexual abuse or human trafficking. Currently, the special assessment expires on September 30, 2025.

Section 2313. Short-Term Reauthorization of the United States International Development Finance Corporation.

The DFC’s mandate expires on October 6. The DFC focuses on development projects in lower- and middleincome countries and was first formally authorized in 2018 through the BUILD Act.

TITLE IV— BUDGETARY EFFECTS

Section 2401. Budgetary Effects.

Technical budgetary provisions.

Obviously Republicans are never going to agree to this bill as it stands (or likely anything remotely close to it), but this, at least, is the Democrats opening bid.

House Republicans can pass whatever the hell they want with a simple majority, of course.

Senate Republicans have three choices:

• 1. Negotiate in good faith;
• 2. Refuse to negotiate in good faith & shut down the government; or
• 3. Flat-out vote to kill the filibuster entirely and pass whatever they want with a simple majority.

Those are the possibilities on the table. I'm praying that Democrats stand their ground especially on the provisions reining in the Trump Administration's complete disregard for anything resembling the rule of law or the Constitution.