Last Week in Congress (10/13–10/17/25)
An update will be shared every week that Congress is in session. This will include a short summary of the past week in Congress, as well as a listing of all education-related bills introduced in the House and Senate, relevant Committee and Floor activity, and education-related hearings.
Congress spent a bit of time voting on motions about procedures about conversations about secondary votes to close discussions on motions (you get the picture) that are procedurally related to whether to move forward with H.R. 5371, the GOP-backed continuing resolution to extend funding for the federal government until November 1.
In the meantime, in case you’re looking for fun shutdown facts to share around the dinner table:
· At Day 19, this is now the third-longest government shutdown in U.S. history. The second longest stretched 21 days, from 12/16/95 – 1/5/96 (Clinton), and the longest clocked in at a whopping 35 days, from 12/22/18 – 1/25/19 (Trump).
· On October 17, the United States Courts announced that the Judiciary’s funds are running out on October 20, and “it will no longer have funding to sustain full, paid operations” which will limit activities to only those necessary to perform constitutional functions under Article III. Each impacted court ill make its own operational decisions; questions should be directed to the (unpaid) clerk.
· The longest shutdown on record was only a partial shutdown, as Congress had passed a series of annual appropriations bill prior to the funding deadline.
· The President with the highest number of shutdowns was Ronald Reagan, coming in at 4. Each shutdown lasted between 2-3 days.
· Since the first appropriations lapse in 1981, the longest streak without a shutdown ran from January 6, 1996 – September 30, 2013.
· H.R. 5753 (McGovern, D-MA), to amend the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act and the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 to increase reimbursement rates of school meals (Education and Workforce).
· H.R. 5769 (Houchin, R-IN), to amend the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act to improve provisions relating to dyslexia (Education and Workforce).
· H.R. 5774 (Leger Fernandez, D-NM), to amend the Head Start Act to protect Head Start from proposals to eliminate the program and restore the Head Start program's regional offices (Education and Workforce).
· H.R. 5779 (Miller, R-OH), to establish a program of workforce development as an alternative to college for all (Education and Workforce).
· H.R. 5790 (Waters, D-CA), to require the reimbursement of State governments, local governments, and school districts by the Government for funds used by them to maintain participation in Head Start and Early Head Start during the Government shutdown (Education and Workforce).
· S. 3010 (Cassidy, R-LA), to amend the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act to improve provisions relating to dyslexia (Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions).
· The Senate resumed consideration of the motion to proceed to consideration of H.R. 5371, the GOP proposal to extend continuing appropriations (without extending cuts to Affordable Care Act insurance premiums) until November 1. On October 14, by a vote of 49 yeas to 45 nays, the Senate rejected the motion to close further debate. On October 15, by a vote of 51 yeas to 44 nays, the Senate rejected the motion to close further debate on the motion to proceed. On October 16, the same vote failed by 51 yeas to 45 nays. The Senate will hold a roll call vote on Monday, October 20.
· On October 14, the Senate began consideration on the motion to proceed to consideration of H.R. 4016, the House Department of Defense appropriations bill. On October 16, by a vote of 50 yeas to 44 nays, the Senate rejected the motion to close further debate and proceed to consideration.