Congress Enters ‘Lame Duck’ Session to Tackle Key Legislation
Following midterm elections, Congress has entered a "lame duck" session in Washington to address unfinished legislative priorities, including a government funding deadline and key bills like the National Defense Authorization Act and the Farm Bill before the new Congress is…
Lafayette, IN, November 7, 2026 — The United States Congress has convened for a “lame duck” session, a period following midterm elections and prior to the seating of a newly elected Congress. This session is typically dedicated to addressing outstanding legislative matters and priorities that did not advance during the regular legislative calendar.
Lawmakers are set to focus on several critical pieces of legislation before the current congressional term concludes. Among the pressing issues is the approaching government funding deadline. Failure to pass appropriations bills could lead to a government shutdown if agreements are not reached.
Additionally, two significant bills are on the agenda: the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and the Farm Bill. The NDAA outlines the budget and policies for the Department of Defense, a vital piece of legislation for national security. The Farm Bill, which is typically reauthorized every five years, addresses agricultural and food policy, impacting everything from farm subsidies and conservation programs to nutrition assistance.
The “lame duck” session presents a window of opportunity for the outgoing Congress to finalize these and other unfinished legislative priorities. The outcome of these deliberations will shape policy for the coming years and set the stage for the legislative agenda of the incoming Congress.
Story summarized from the original created by Caitrin Assaf on www.wlfi.com, see more information here.
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