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H.R. 7148 House Real Bill Became Public Law No: 119-75. 119th Congress

Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026

A Must-Pass Omnibus, Signed Right on Schedule (Somehow)

Legislative Progress Introduced Jan 20, 2026
House Origin → Both Chambers → President
House (origin)
Introduced
Committee
Passed House
Senate
Received in Senate
Committee
Passed Senate
President
Signed into Law
Absurdity Index
7/10
7-8Hold My Gavel
The Gist
Hold My Gavel

Congress just passed a $2+ trillion omnibus spending bill that funds five of twelve regular budget items—meaning seven departments are still operating on fumes through a continuing resolution. It's like paying your electric bill but forgetting about water, gas, and that thing called the Department of Homeland Security, which now runs on a short leash until mid-February. The absurdity isn't what's in the bill; it's what's conspicuously missing from it.

Why It Matters

Millions of federal employees, benefit recipients, and anyone who depends on TSA screening or federal transportation infrastructure are living under budget uncertainty while Congress sorts out the remaining seven appropriations bills. Agencies funded through continuing resolutions can't start new initiatives, hire staff, or plan beyond their CR expiration date—which, for DHS, is approximately 11 days away.

Sponsor
Cole, Tom [R-OK-4] R
Committee
Ways and Means Committee
Introduced
Jan 20, 2026
Category
Economics and Public Finance

Party Balance

R
Primary Sponsor Cole, Tom [R-OK-4]
Republican

No cosponsors on this bill

Key Milestones

46 total actions

Referred to the Committee on Appropriations, and in addition to the Committees on the Budget, and Ways and Means, for...

On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 341 - 88 (Roll No. 45). (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR ...

Passed Senate, under the order of 1/30/2026, having achieved 60 votes in the affirmative, with amendments by Yea-Nay ...

On motion that the House agree to the Senate amendments Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 217 - 214 (Roll no. 53).

Became Public Law No: 119-75.

Estimated Taxpayer Cost

$158,316

~2 hours of congressional session time at $79,158/hour

(535 members × $174k salary ÷ 147 session days ÷ 8 hours)

Simplified estimate based on salary costs only. Actual costs include staff, facilities, and lost productivity.

Satire notice: Spending figures, pork tracking, and editorial commentary below are satirical estimates for entertainment purposes. They are not official government cost analyses. Legislative history and vote records are real — verify at Congress.gov .

Pork Barrel Meter
$0
$0$100B$1T+
"Squeaky Clean"

Satirical estimate for entertainment purposes

Watch the Sausage Get Made

See how this bill transformed through 5 stages of the legislative process.

Deep Dive

Official CRS Summary

Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026This bill provides appropriations to several federal departments and agencies for the remainder of FY2026 and provides continuing FY2026 appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) through February 13, 2026. It also extends various expiring programs and authorities.Specifically, the bill includes 5 of the 12 regular FY2026 appropriations bills:the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2026;the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026; the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026;the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act, 2026; andthe National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2026.The departments, agencies, and activities funded in the bill includethe Department of Defense,the Department of Labor,the Department of Health and Human Services,the Department of Education,the Department of Transportation,the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Department of the Treasury,the Executive Office of the President,the judiciary,the District of Columbia,the Department of State and related programs,the administration and oversight of foreign assistance programs,  bilateral economic assistance,international security assistance,multilateral assistance,export and investment assistance, andseveral related and independent agencies.In addition, the bill includes a continuing resolution (CR) that provides continuing FY2026 appropriations to DHS through the earlier of February 13, 2026, or the enactment of the DHS appropriations act. The CR funds most DHS programs and activities at the FY2025 levels.The bill also extends several expiring programs and authorities, includingthe U.S. Grain Standards Act;the Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s whistleblower program;the National Flood Insurance Program;the Forest Ser

Read full summary on Congress.gov
All Legislative Actions 46
Became Public Law No: 119-75.
Signed by President.
Presented to President.
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
On motion that the House agree to the Senate amendments Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 217 - 214 (Roll no. 53).
Resolving differences -- House actions: On motion that the House agree to the Senate amendments Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 217 - 214 (Roll no. 53).
The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 1032, the House proceeded with one hour of debate on the motion to agree to the Senate amendments to H.R. 7148.
Mr. Cole moved that the House agree to the Senate amendments (consideration: CR H1960-1967)
Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 1032, Mr. Cole called up the Senate amendments to H.R. 7148.
Passed Senate, under the order of 1/30/2026, having achieved 60 votes in the affirmative, with amendments by Yea-Nay Vote. 71 - 29. Record Vote Number: 20.
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate, under the order of 1/30/2026, having achieved 60 votes in the affirmative, with amendments by Yea-Nay Vote. 71 - 29. Record Vote Number: 20.
Motion by Senator Thune to reconsider the vote by which cloture on the motion to proceed to H.R.7148 was not invoked (Record Vote No. 13) rendered moot in Senate.
Cloture motion on the motion to proceed rendered moot in Senate.
Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S411-416)
Motion to proceed to consideration of measure agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.
Motion to proceed to measure considered in Senate. (CR S401)
Motion by Senator Thune to reconsider the vote by which cloture on the motion to proceed to the measure was not invoked (Record Vote No. 13) entered in Senate.
Cloture on the motion to proceed to the measure not invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 45 - 55. Record Vote Number: 13. (CR S361)
Motion to proceed to measure considered in Senate. (CR S357)
Motion to proceed to measure considered in Senate. (CR S301)
Cloture motion on the motion to proceed to the measure presented in Senate. (CR S287)
Motion to proceed to consideration of measure made in Senate. (CR S281)
Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 302.
Received in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time. (Legislative Day January 15, 2026).
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 341 - 88 (Roll No. 45). (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR H1193-1297)
Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 341 - 88 (Roll No. 45). (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR H1193-1297)
The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 7148.
The House resolved into Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union for further consideration.
Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H1330-1333)
Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union rises leaving H.R. 7148 as unfinished business.
On motion that the committee rise Agreed to by voice vote.
Mr. Cole moved that the committee rise.
POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Norman amendment No. 2, the Chair put the question on agreeing to the amendment and by voice vote, announced the ayes had prevailed. Ms. DeLauro demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings until a time to be announced.
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 1014, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Norman amendment No. 2.
POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Massie amendment No. 1, the Chair put the question on agreeing to the amendment and by voice vote, announced the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Massie demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings until a time to be announced.
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 1014, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Massie amendment No. 1.
GENERAL DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate on H.R. 7148.
The Speaker designated the Honorable Mary E. Miller to act as Chairwoman of the Committee.
House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 1014 and Rule XVIII.
Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 7148 and H.R. 7147. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 7148 under a structured rule and H.R. 7147 under a closed rule. The rule provides for one hour of debate and a motion to recommit on each bill.
Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 1014. (consideration: CR H1185-1299)
Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 1014 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 7148 and H.R. 7147. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 7148 under a structured rule and H.R. 7147 under a closed rule. The rule provides for one hour of debate and a motion to recommit on each bill.
Referred to the Committee on Appropriations, and in addition to the Committees on the Budget, and Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Amendments 65
4295
4294
4293
4292
4291
4290

To rescind certain amounts appropriated for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and certain changes to Medicaid.

4289
4288
4287

To prevent the deferral or rescission of appropriations within 90 days of their expiration.

4286

To eliminate funding for the United States African Development Foundation.

4285
4284
4283
4282
4281
4280
4279
4278
4277
4276

Showing 20 of 65 amendments.

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Text Versions 6
Enrolled Bill
Engrossed Amendment Senate
Placed on Calendar Senate
Engrossed in House
Introduced in House
Public Law

What’s Actually In It

This is what happens when Congress decides to cram five of twelve annual spending bills into one legislative vehicle and hope nobody notices: a $1.2 trillion omnibus that funds everything from aircraft carriers to the National Flood Insurance Program. The bill covers the Department of Defense, Labor, HHS, Education, Transportation, HUD, Treasury, the Judiciary, and State Department, plus a bunch of independent agencies that probably could’ve waited until next week. It also includes a temporary patch for the Department of Homeland Security that lasts until mid-February, because apparently we enjoy budgetary cliffhangers.

The Fine Print

Buried in here are extensions for seventeen different expiring programs that most Americans have never heard of, including the CFTC’s whistleblower program, the Motor Carrier Safety Advisory Committee, and—inexplicably—the U.S. Grain Standards Act. The bill also revives the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program and extends various cybersecurity authorities, trade preferences for Haiti, and the U.S. Sentencing Commission’s jurisdiction over guidelines related to unmanned aircraft. You know, just normal government stuff.

The Process

The House passed this by exactly three votes (217-214) on February 3rd and the President signed it the same day. That razor-thin margin suggests this bill was about as popular as a gluten-free pizza party, but it passed anyway, which is how omnibus bills work: everyone holds their nose, votes for it, and then complains to their constituents about the provisions they didn’t like.

Source: Real bill from the 119th Congress. View on Congress.gov.

Disclaimer: The absurdity score and editorial commentary above represent this site’s opinion. Bill details should be verified at Congress.gov.

This page is satirical commentary by AbsurdityIndex.org. Legislative history comes from public congressional records; spending estimates and "pork" figures are editorial and may not reflect official cost analyses. Absurdity scores are subjective editorial ratings. Verify all claims at Congress.gov