OUR PERSPECTIVES

There is no question that many bills currently sidelined could find hope after the 2026 midterm elections during the “lame duck” session of Congress. Hopes to pass legislation before November could happen episodically, but the closer the election is on the horizon, the less likely Republicans and Democrats will be willing to work together to pass legislation (which h we are already seeing). Here are five ways to prepare for a busy “lame duck” session of Congress: (1) Prepa

We are almost 100 days away from the 2026 election. Between next week and the election, stand two monthlong congressional recesses (August and October), a robust legislative agenda, the risk of a government shutdown, and two parties that are not only widening the divide between them, but also finding emerging divisions within their own parties. The chaos and uncertainty are not entirely abnormal for an election year, but they will impact both legislative and political goals

The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee is expected to mark up its version of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2026 this morning, kicking off one of Congress's most consistently bipartisan infrastructure efforts. The timing is particularly noteworthy: just one day before the House markup, Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Chair Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and Ranking Member Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) released the Senate's bipartisan WRDA

In today's political environment, few organizations can successfully advance federal policy priorities on their own. A closely divided Congress, limited legislative bandwidth, and increasing demands on policymakers have fundamentally changed how advocacy works in Washington. As a result, coalition advocacy has become one of the most effective tools for influencing federal policy. Coalitions bring together organizations with shared interests to advocate around common goals.