On July 22, the House of Representatives agreed to the third budget reconciliation resolution of 2026. This resolution is the first step in the budget reconciliation process. The resolution needs to pass the Senate, and then the four committees with directives in the bill will be able to respond with their recommended changes to the law and submit them to the Budget Committee.
This reconciliation bill contains four items: $12 billion for the Committee on Agriculture, $60 billion for the Committee on Armed Services, $13 billion for the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, and $10 billion for the Committee on House Administration. This brings the total reconciliation budget to $95 billion.
$73 billion in this bill, between the Armed Services Committee and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, is expected to fund the military and support efforts during the current Iranian conflict.
Under the Agriculture Committee, $10 billion is supposed to strengthen the food supply and support farmers in America. This funding will support farm relief programs to ensure American farmers can provide a stable food supply.
Finally, $10 billion will go towards the Committee on House Administration. The chairman of this committee, Representative Bryan Steil, remarked: “We have a real opportunity before us to strengthen election integrity in all 50 states.” Part of the reconciliation structure allows Congress to incentivize states to implement parts of the SAVE America Act.
The resolution passed narrowly through the House, 216-214. The next step is for the Senate to agree with the resolution. This process establishes budget goals for fiscal year 2027 (beginning October 1) and expedites the budget process by limiting debate time in the Senate and only requires a simple majority to pass. Instead of the regular budget process, which would require a three-fifths majority vote, reconciliation allows many of the details of the budget to be reconciled in the respective committees.
It remains to be seen whether the Senate will pass the resolution easily. Senate Majority Leader John Thune intends to hold the reconciliation as a backup until plans are made to avoid a government shutdown in September. Passage is still possible, but amendments will likely be made to reach an agreement. Many Senators have voiced resistance to the resolution, but it will be important to work together to pass a budget measure.