Top House Republican lawmakers pushed back on suggestions they would cut short their September session after two Democrats unexpectedly supported a procedural vote on Tuesday. That vote cleared the way for additional floor action later in the week.
“We’re not leaving early,” said Rep. Mike Simpson (R-Idaho), signaling that Republicans intend to remain in Washington to complete outstanding legislative responsibilities. Party leaders have stressed they will prioritize must-pass measures.
Focus on must-pass bills
Republicans identified time-sensitive legislation—such as the annual defense policy bill—as the primary items they need to finish. They signaled that more contentious measures, including proposals related to AI data centers, are unlikely to be taken up before the end of the year.
“It’s something that ought to be debated and discussed, but I don’t know that we can do that between now and the end of the year,” Simpson said, referring to the issue of AI data center regulation.
Dissent within the conference
Not all House Republicans are eager to stay: Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar (R-Fla.) said there would be “no consequences” for lawmakers who head home early, underscoring differing views within the conference about how long to remain in session and what priorities to pursue.
For now, the GOP leadership plans to remain in town to address the most necessary bills, while leaving broader and potentially divisive debates—such as those over AI data centers—for a later time.
(Reporting by Nicholas Wu.)
