The House of Representatives returns from recess on Monday with passing a short-term funding bill to prevent a government shutdown as its top priority, with lawmakers aiming to avoid a lapse in funding by September 30. The Senate has already passed a version of the bill that includes provisions opposed by some Democrats, such as additional funding for Border Patrol and temporary restrictions on canceling federal grants. House GOP leaders plan to fast-track a vote on the Senate bill, which would require significant Democratic support to pass, but the article notes that this could be challenging given previous opposition from Democrats. The House's return also marks the first time lawmakers will be back on Capitol Hill since several ethics investigations were disclosed, including those into Republican Reps. Max Miller and Chuck Edwards.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-31,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
The House returns Monday from its five-week recess, with approving a short-term funding bill to head off a government shutdown topping its to-do list.
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approving → return → list
Funding is set to lapse Sept. 30 without a deal, and lawmakers are planning to take another weeklong break for Labor Day.
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lawmakers → set → Day
But the House measure, which would have extended funding at current levels until Dec. 4, met resistance in the Senate.
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which → extend → Senate
The upper chamber instead
in early August to fund the government until Dec. 11.
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chamber → fund → Dec.
The Senate version includes a provision that would close a loophole that Democrats said allowed the Trump administration to transfer funds to Border Patrol.
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administration → include → Patrol
It also includes language that would temporarily prevent political appointees from canceling federal grants.
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that → include → grants
The provisions could help bolster Democratic votes in the House for a funding patch.
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provisions → help → patch
Only six Democrats crossed party lines in July because the measure failed to zero out funding for Border Patrol.
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measure → cross → Patrol
Rep. Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut, the top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, argued that the provision's exclusion would allow the Trump administration to move funds allotted to the rest of Customs and Border Protection to the agency.
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administration → argue → agency
Democrats have opposed additional funding for the agency, citing the Trump administration's deportation and immigration policies.
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Democrats → oppose → policies
House GOP leaders plan to fast-track a vote, which would require significant Democratic support to meet the two-thirds majority threshold for passage.
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which → plan → passage
The House's return marks the first time that members will be back on Capitol Hill since the House Ethics Committee disclosed it was investigating GOP Rep. Max Miller of Ohio for
and drug use and Democratic Rep. Jimmy Gomez of California for .
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it → mark → California
Both lawmakers have denied the allegations against them.
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lawmakers → deny → them
that GOP Rep. Chuck Edwards of North Carolina be censured after its investigation concluded that he engaged in "persistent unprofessional and inappropriate conduct towards two young female staffers."
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he → that → staffers
The panel noted it found no evidence that Edwards "engaged in sexual activity with or explicitly propositioned any individual under his employ."Though
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Edwards → note → employ
his campaign said the committee's findings "completely exonerate" Edwards under House rules
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findings → say → rules
, the North Carolina Republican ended his reelection bid days later.
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Republican → end → bid
The House could vote as soon as this week on a censure resolution reprimanding Edwards.
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Vote to denounce socialism
Republicans are also planning a vote on a resolution that condemns and denounces socialism "in all its forms."
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that → denounce → forms
The messaging vote comes as voters have embraced a number of democratic socialist candidates in the Democratic primaries.
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voters → come → primaries
While campaigning in Texas last week, House Speaker Mike Johnson warned that "socialism is a road to ruin."
"They don't understand that socialism is a step to get to communism," the Louisiana Republican said.
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Republican → campaign → communism
The four-page resolution references Zohran Mamdani's win in the New York City mayoral election and other candidates affiliated with the Democratic Socialists of America who have run for public office.
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who → reference → office
The measure also reaffirms support for President Trump's voting regulations legislation, the SAVE America Act, which has been long stalled in the Senate.
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which → reaffirm → Senate
GOP's margin to narrow
The Democratic caucus is expected to gain two new members in the coming days to fill the vacancies left by Democratic Reps. Eric Swalwell of California and David Scott of Georgia.
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caucus → narrow → Georgia
Swalwell resigned in April after he was accused of sexual assault, which also imploded his campaign for California governor.
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which → resign → governor
Scott died about a week later, leaving another vacancy.
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Scott → die → vacancy
Democrats will have 214 seats once they're sworn in, with 219 seats held by Republican caucus members, narrowing the GOP's margin to two votes.
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seats → have → votes
