{"id":2281,"date":"2026-08-10T13:16:45","date_gmt":"2026-08-10T13:16:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cms.hhs.com\/?p=2281"},"modified":"2026-08-10T13:19:05","modified_gmt":"2026-08-10T13:19:05","slug":"government-funding-update-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cmsdev.hhs.com\/index.php\/2026\/08\/10\/government-funding-update-3\/","title":{"rendered":"Government Funding Update"},"content":{"rendered":"

Government Funding Update \u2013 <\/strong>The Senate passed the bipartisan Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2027 (H.R. 6500) on Saturday in a 90-6 vote. The continuing resolution (CR) would fund the federal government through December 11, 2026, one week beyond the CR advanced by the House of Representatives last month. The package would prevent the Office of Management and Budget\u2019s proposed rule regarding federal financial assistance from taking effect during the length of the stopgap spending measure. It also includes language to delay a ban on intoxicating hemp products, which is set to go into effect November 12.\u00a0 The White House has issued a statement of administration policy in support of the Senate-passed funding bill. The Senate has now officially begun its five-week August recess and is scheduled to reconvene September 14. The House is currently scheduled to return on August 31. The chambers must come to an agreement on government funding upon their return in order to avoid a government shutdown at the end of the fiscal year on September 30.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Senate Confirms New CDC Director<\/strong> \u2013 The Senate confirmed Erica Schwartz, MD, JD, MPH to serve as the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Wednesday. Republicans were joined by Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) in support of her nomination. The CDC has been without a permanent director for almost a year. Schwartz is a career civil servant, having previously served as a U.S. deputy surgeon general and a rear admiral in the Commissioned Corps of the U.S. Public Health Service. She is departing her most recent job as an executive at UnitedHealth Group to lead the CDC.<\/p>\n

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Rand Paul Leads Censure of Former COVID-19 Czar Fauci \u2013 <\/strong>The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee (HSGAC) voted to hold Anthony Fauci, MD in contempt of Congress on Thursday in an 8-7 party line vote. Dr. Fauci, the former COVID-19 czar and longtime director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, did not answer any questions during a recent hearing on his role in the coronavirus pandemic, invoking his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination. Fauci argued that the proceedings were an attempt by HSGAC Chair Rand Paul, MD (R-Ky.) to goad him into potential perjury. Paul, who has repeatedly called for criminal charges against Fauci for the mishandling of the nation\u2019s Covid response, has asserted that Fauci should not have been able to invoke the Fifth Amendment given his pardon by former President Joe Biden. Under regular procedures, the contempt resolution would next be considered on the Senate floor, where it would require 60 votes to bypass a filibuster. Paul has stated that he instead intends to \u201chand-deliver\u201d the resolution to Attorney General Todd Blanche and U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanne Pirro.<\/p>\n

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Wyden Queries HHS on Deals with Tobacco, Kratom Companies \u2013 <\/strong>Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) has written<\/a> to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. regarding his relationships with the tobacco and kratom industry. The letter outlines how actions by the Trump administration have weakened restrictions on the sale of flavored e-cigarettes and made kratom products widely available in retail stores nationwide. \u201cFrom kratom and nicotine to pesticides and PFAS, you have yet to draw a line in the sand and buck corporate interests to Make America Healthy Again\u2026your door is always open for corporate donors with demands and a checkbook,\u201d Sen. Wyden wrote. Wyden also sent letters to executives from Botanic Tonics and Reynolds America about reported handshake deals between the companies and the Trump administration.<\/p>\n

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Incumbent Losses in Tuesday\u2019s Primary Elections \u2013 <\/strong>Rep. Shri Thanedar (D-Mich.) lost his primary to state representative and democratic socialist Donavan McKinney on Tuesday. Thanedar, who has served in Congress since 2023, is a member of the Agriculture and Homeland Security committees.\u00a0In the Michigan Democratic Senate primary, Rep. Haley Stevens was defeated by progressive Abdul El-Sayed. Stevens, who has served in the House of Representatives since 2019, announced in April that she would be giving up her congressional seat to run for the Senate seat currently held by retiring incumbent Gary Peters (D). El-Sayed is an epidemiologist and the former director of the Department of Health, Human, and Veterans Services of Wayne County.\u00a0Rep. Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.) also lost his primary election on Tuesday, conceding the race to former state Agriculture Commissioner Charlie Hatcher. Ogles was first elected in 2022 and currently serves on the Financial Services and Homeland Security committees. Rep. Chuck Edwards (R-N.C.) has dropped out of his re-election campaign following a recommendation of censure from the House Ethics Committee. The panel asserted that the congressman engaged in \u201cpersistent unprofessional and inappropriate conduct towards two young female staffers.\u201d Edwards, who was first elected to Congress in 2022, will complete his current term in office. He is a member of the Appropriations and Budget committees.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Rep. Chuck Edwards (R-N.C.) has dropped out of his re-election campaign following a recommendation of censure from the House Ethics Committee. The panel asserted that the congressman engaged in \u201cpersistent unprofessional and inappropriate conduct towards two young female staffers.\u201d Edwards, who was first elected to Congress in 2022, will complete his current term in office. He is a member of the Appropriations and Budget committees.<\/p>\n

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Recently Introduced Health Legislation<\/strong><\/p>\n

S.5207 \u2014 A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to maintain the Rural Communities Opioid Response Program, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Capito, Shelley Moore [Sen.-R-WV]; Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions<\/p>\n

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S.5213 \u2014 A bill to support programs for mosquito-borne and other vector-borne disease surveillance and control; Sponsor: King, Angus S., Jr. [Sen.-I-ME]; Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions<\/p>\n

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S.5219 \u2014 A bill to improve end-of-life care; Sponsor: Blumenthal, Richard [Sen.-D-CT]; Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

H.Res.1475 \u2014 Expressing support for the designation of the first week of August as “National Community Health Center Week”, and encouraging all Americans to participate by visiting their local community health center and celebrating the important partnership between health centers and the communities they serve; Sponsor: Valadao, David G. [Rep.-R-CA-22]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce<\/p>\n

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H.R.10013 \u2014 To improve end-of-life care; Sponsor: Barrag\u00e1n, Nanette Diaz [Rep.-D-CA-44]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce; Ways and Means<\/p>\n

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H.R.10015 \u2014 To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to modify health savings accounts, to amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for hospital and insurer price transparency, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Burlison, Eric [Rep.-R-MO-7]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce; Ways and Means; Education and Workforce; Judiciary; Armed Services; Veterans’ Affairs; Foreign Affairs; Financial Services<\/p>\n

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H.R.10020 \u2014 To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to establish a Medicare home care benefit, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Dingell, Debbie [Rep.-D-MI-6]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce; Ways and Means<\/p>\n

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H.R.10024 \u2014 To amend title XXVII of the Public Health Service Act and title XVIII of the Social Security Act to require health insurance issuers and MA organizations to make publicly available certain information with respect to coverage request rejection; Sponsor: Hinson, Ashley [Rep.-R-IA-2]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce; Ways and Means<\/p>\n

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S.5231 \u2013 A bill to remove limitations under Medicaid, Medicare, CHIP, and the Department of Veterans Affairs on benefits for persons in custody pending disposition of charges; Sponsor: Markey, Edward J. [Sen.-D-MA]; Committees: Senate \u2013 Finance<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

S.5232 \u2014A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to authorize rural residency planning and development grant programs, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Smith, Tina [Sen.-D-MN]; Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions<\/p>\n

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S.5236 \u2014 A bill to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to ensure Medicaid coverage of mental health services and primary care services furnished on the same day; Sponsor: Hassan, Margaret Wood [Sen.-D-NH]; Committees: Senate \u2013 Finance<\/p>\n

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S.5237 \u2014 A bill to require the Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases to award a competitive grant for the Antibiotic Resistance Leadership Group for the purpose of facilitating a clinical research network on antibiotic resistance, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Hassan, Margaret Wood [Sen.-D-NH]; Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions<\/p>\n

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S.5239 \u2014 A bill to ensure that nitrile glove procurements comply with the requirements of the Make PPE in America Act, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Moreno, Bernie [Sen.-R-OH]; Committees: Senate – Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs<\/p>\n

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S.5242 \u2014 A bill to provide for digital communication of prescribing information for drugs (including biological products), and for other purposes; Sponsor: Banks, Jim [Sen.-R-IN]; Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions<\/p>\n

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S.5244 \u2014A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act with respect to the drug discount program, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Moran, Jerry [Sen.-R-KS]; Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

S.5246 \u2014A bill to amend title XXX of the Public Health Service Act to establish standards and protocols to improve patient matching; Sponsor: Warner, Mark R. [Sen.-D-VA]; Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions<\/p>\n

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S.5250 \u2014 A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to decrease fraud related to home health agencies in Medicare, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Collins, Susan M. [Sen.-R-ME]; Committees: Senate \u2013 Finance<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

S.5258 \u2014 A bill to amend title XI of the Social Security Act to establish a payment model to reimburse providers for furnishing comprehensive breast cancer risk assessments and developing personalized screening and risk-reduction plans, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Cassidy, Bill [Sen.-R-LA]; Committees: Senate \u2013 Finance<\/p>\n

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S.5260 \u2014A bill to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to carry out research and data collection to improve the quality of stroke care, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Luj\u00e1n, Ben Ray [Sen.-D-NM]; Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions<\/p>\n

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S.5261 \u2014 A bill to amend the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 to make available under the assistance to firefighters grant program the establishment of cancer prevention programs, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Booker, Cory A. [Sen.-D-NJ]; Committees: Senate – Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs<\/p>\n

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S.5267 \u2014 A bill to amend title XI of the Social Security Act to require the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation to test a model to reduce chronic diseases by using Accountable Produce is Medicine; Sponsor: Banks, Jim [Sen.-R-IN]; Committees: Senate \u2013 Finance<\/p>\n

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S.5269 \u2014 A bill to provide for the establishment of hybrid primary care payments under the Medicare program, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Whitehouse, Sheldon [Sen.-D-RI]; Committees: Senate \u2013 Finance<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

S.5270 \u2014 A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to establish a Medicare home care benefit, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Kim, Andy [Sen.-D-NJ]; Committees: Senate \u2013 Finance<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

S.5283 \u2014 A bill to end preventable maternal mortality, severe maternal morbidity, and maternal health disparities in the United States, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Booker, Cory A. [Sen.-D-NJ]; Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions<\/p>\n

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S.5287 \u2014 A bill to authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, to make grants to States to increase awareness and education for colorectal cancer and improve early detection of colorectal cancer in young individuals, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Ossoff, Jon [Sen.-D-GA]; Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions<\/p>\n

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S.5292 \u2013 A bill to provide for green and resilient health care infrastructure, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Markey, Edward J. [Sen.-D-MA]; Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions<\/p>\n

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S.5295 \u2014 A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to strengthen mentorship and career development support for early-career researchers receiving funding from the National Institutes of Health, and for other purposes; Sponsor: McCormick, David [Sen.-R-PA]; Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions<\/p>\n

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S.5296 \u2014 A bill to provide low-income individuals with opportunities to enter and follow a career pathway in the health professions, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Heinrich, Martin [Sen.-D-NM]; Committees: Senate \u2013 Finance<\/p>\n

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S.5297 \u2014A bill to require the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to submit a report regarding the use of coverage and reimbursement authorities to protect the markets for active pharmaceutical ingredients and key staring materials; Sponsor: Schiff, Adam B. [Sen.-D-CA]; Committees: Senate \u2013 Finance<\/p>\n

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S.5305 \u2014A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to modify the grant program for mental health and substance use disorder services for students in higher education and the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline program to address youth suicide prevention and intervention, and for other purposes; Sponsor: McCormick, David [Sen.-R-PA]; Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

S.5312 \u2014 A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for a Reducing Youth Use of E-Cigarettes Initiative; Sponsor: Blumenthal, Richard [Sen.-D-CT]; Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions<\/p>\n

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S.5319 \u2014 A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for patient protection by limiting the number of mandatory overtime hours a nurse may be required to work in certain providers of services to which payments are made under the Medicare Program; Sponsor: Merkley, Jeff [Sen.-D-OR]; Committees: Senate \u2013 Finance<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

S.5321 \u2014 A bill to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to require coverage of, and expand access to, home and community-based services under the Medicaid program, to award grants for the creation, recruitment, training and education, retention, and advancement of the direct care workforce and to award grants to support family caregivers, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Luj\u00e1n, Ben Ray [Sen.-D-NM]; Committees: Senate \u2013 Finance<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

S.5326 \u2014 A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to strengthen program integrity oversight for the Health Care Fraud and Abuse Control Program, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Cortez Masto, Catherine [Sen.-D-NV]; Committees: Senate \u2013 Finance<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

S.5327 \u2014 A bill to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to conduct a study on suicide risk factors faced by construction workers, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Cortez Masto, Catherine [Sen.-D-NV]; Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

H.R.10056 \u2014 To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for patient protection by limiting the number of mandatory overtime hours a nurse may be required to work in certain providers of services to which payments are made under the Medicare Program; Sponsor: Matsui, Doris O. [Rep.-D-CA-7]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce; Ways and Means<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

H.R.10068 \u2014 To amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for a Reducing Youth Use of E-Cigarettes Initiative; Sponsor: Wasserman Schultz, Debbie [Rep.-D-FL-25]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Government Funding Update \u2013 The Senate passed the bipartisan Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2027 (H.R. 6500) on Saturday in a 90-6 vote. The continuing resolution (CR) would fund the federal government through December 11, 2026, one week beyond the CR advanced by the House of Representatives last month. The package would prevent the Office … <\/p>\n

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