Legislative Intelligence Briefing - Monday, May 11, 2026

Executive Summary

Congress is out of session today (Monday, May 11) with both chambers returning Tuesday, May 12. The House floor schedule for the week is dominated by a public safety and criminal justice package under suspension and rule procedures, headlined by the FY2027 Military Construction/VA Appropriations Act (H.R. 8469) moving toward floor consideration. On the regulatory front, four final rules published today in the Federal Register — including a significant DHS immigration signature rule and a DOT drug testing revision — take effect within 30–60 days. The appropriations cycle is in active subcommittee markup phase, with 14 FY2027 budget hearings scheduled across Senate subcommittees this week and 55 member FY27 request portals now live.

Floor Schedule: House Returns Tuesday with Public Safety and Appropriations Package

The House floor schedule for the week of May 11 includes 15 items, with the most significant being:

Under Suspension (no amendments, 2/3 majority required):

H.R. 4437.pdf) — SMART Act (as amended)
H.R. 4478%20(1).pdf) — TRUST Act
H.R. 2853 — Combating Organized Retail Crime Act of 2025 (as amended)
H.R. 2267 — NICS Data Reporting Act of 2025 (as amended)
H.R. 8352 — Criminal History Access Act (as amended)
H.R. 2071 — Save Our Shrimpers Act (as amended)

Under Rule (open to amendment):

H.R. 5625 — Cashless Bail Reporting Act (sponsor: Rep. Mark Harris, R-NC-8); directs DOJ to publish annual lists of jurisdictions that have eliminated cash bail for violent/sexual offenses
H.R. 6260 — Keeping Violent Offenders Off Our Streets Act of 2025 (sponsor: Rep. Scott Fitzgerald, R-WI-5)
H.R. 8365 — Monitor Accountability Act (sponsor: Rep. Andy Biggs, R-AZ-5; introduced April 20, 2026)
H. Con. Res. 96 — Expressing support for law enforcement officers
H.R. 8469 — Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2027 (sponsor: Rep. John R. Carter, R-TX-31; introduced April 23, 2026) — the first FY2027 appropriations bill to reach the House floor

The House Rules Committee meets Tuesday, May 12 at 4:00 PM (H-313, Capitol) to set the rule for H.R. 5625, H.R. 6260, H.R. 8365, H. Con. Res. 96, and H.R. 8469.

→ Walk me through H.R. 8469 MilCon-VA Appropriations Act provisions and what to watch on the floor

→ Draft a one-page memo on the House public safety floor package

Committee Actions: Senate Judiciary Reconciliation Business Meeting (Tuesday)

The Senate Judiciary Committee has scheduled a business meeting to consider Budget Reconciliation on Tuesday, May 12 at 1:00 PM (Hart Senate Office Building, Room 216). This is a significant procedural step as the Senate works through its reconciliation instructions. The meeting is listed twice in the schedule, confirming it is a formal committee action.

→ Expand on Senate Judiciary reconciliation business meeting May 12 — what provisions are under consideration

→ Draft a memo on Senate Judiciary reconciliation markup implications

Committee Actions: Defense Authorization Hearings (Senate Armed Services, Tuesday)

The Senate Armed Services Committee holds closed and open hearings on the Department of the Army's FY2027 posture on Tuesday, May 12 beginning at 9:30 AM (Capitol Visitor Center, SVC-217, followed by open session in SD-G50). The Emerging Threats and Capabilities Subcommittee also holds a hearing on U.S. Special Operations Command at 3:30 PM (Russell Senate Office Building, Room 222), followed by a closed session in SVC-217.

Separately, the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee holds two budget hearings on Tuesday:

Department of Defense at 8:00 AM (Rayburn 2359)
U.S. Navy and Marine Corps at 2:00 PM (Capitol H-140)

→ Pull the full FY2027 defense budget hearing schedule and key witness list for Senate Armed Services

Committee Actions: House Foreign Affairs Markup (Wednesday)

The House Foreign Affairs Committee has scheduled a markup of "Various Measures" on Wednesday, May 13 at 10:00 AM (Rayburn House Office Building, Room 2172). No specific bills are listed in the schedule at this time.

→ See what bills are expected in the House Foreign Affairs markup on May 13

Committee Actions: House Veterans' Affairs Mega-Markup (Thursday)

The House Veterans' Affairs Committee has a large markup scheduled for Thursday, May 14 at 2:00 PM (Cannon House Office Building, Room 360) covering 19 bills, including:

H.R. 5634 — Veterans Flight Training Responsibility Act of 2026
H.R. 7083 — CRUISE Act
H.R. 7103 — Improving Emerging Tech Opportunities for Veterans Act
H.R. 2283 — Recognizing Community Organizations for Veteran Engagement and Recovery Act
H.R. 6993 — BEACON Act of 2026
H.R. 7950 — VA Congressional Accountability Act
H.R. 7683 — VA Fiscal Management and Modernization Act
H.R. 8052 — VIP Act
H.R. 5999 — Veteran Opioid Emergency Treatment Act
H.R. 8010 — VA Police Recruitment and Retention Act of 2026
H.R. 5723 — FRAUD in VA Disability Exams Act
Plus lease resolutions and additional measures

→ Pull details on the House Veterans' Affairs Committee markup bills for May 14

Regulatory Actions: Four Final Rules Published Today (May 11)

1. DHS — Signatures on Immigration Benefit Requests (Document No. 2026-09289; 91 FR 25479)

Effective July 10, 2026. This interim final rule amends USCIS regulations to allow the agency to reject or deny benefit requests that lack a valid signature, even after initial acceptance. Clarifies enforcement of signature requirements.

→ Expand on DHS immigration signature rule 2026-09289 and its operational impact on USCIS benefit requests

2. DOT — Transportation Workplace Drug and Alcohol Testing Programs (Document No. 2026-09290; 91 FR 25507)

Effective June 10, 2026. Revises testing procedures to require directly observed urine collection where oral fluid testing is unavailable. Also updates terminology consistent with Executive Order 14168 (gender ideology/biological truth EO).

3. HHS — Extension of Disability Web Accessibility Compliance Dates (Document No. 2026-09266; 91 FR 25496)

Effective May 7, 2026. Extends Section 504 Rehabilitation Act web content/mobile app accessibility compliance deadlines: recipients with 15+ employees now have until May 11, 2027 (from May 11, 2026 today); recipients with fewer than 15 employees extended to May 10, 2028. This is a last-minute extension published on the original compliance deadline date.

4. NOAA/Commerce — 2026 Pacific Whiting Harvest Specifications (Document No. 2026-09293; 91 FR 25511)

Effective immediately (May 11, 2026). Sets the 2026 U.S. total allowable catch (TAC) for Pacific whiting off Washington, Oregon, and California, including Tribal allocations and sector allocations.

Presidential Action: Yemen National Emergency Renewed

President Trump signed a continuation of the National Emergency with Respect to Yemen (Document No. 2026-09385), signed May 7, 2026, published today May 11. This is a routine annual renewal of the Yemen sanctions/emergency framework under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.

→ Pull the Yemen national emergency continuation notice and its current sanctions framework

Appropriations Signals: FY2027 Cycle in Active Subcommittee Markup Phase

The FY2027 appropriations cycle is now in active subcommittee markup phase, with full committee markups expected within approximately 21 days. Key signals:

55 member FY27 request portals are now live, including (detected April 22, 2026):

Rep. John W. Mannion (D-NY) — portal
Rep. Sara Jacobs (D-CA) — portal
Rep. Troy A. Carter (D-LA) — portal
Rep. Mike Collins (R-GA) — portal
Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D-NY) — portal
Rep. Pete Sessions (R-TX) — portal
Rep. Donald Norcross (D-NJ) — portal
Rep. Jesús G. "Chuy" García (D-IL) — portal
Rep. Hank Johnson (D-GA) — portal
Rep. Laura Friedman (D-CA) — portal
Rep. Janelle S. Bynum (D-OR) — portal
Rep. Daniel Webster (R-FL) — portal
Rep. Kelly Morrison (D-MN) — portal
Rep. Tim Moore (R-NC) — portal
Rep. Jonathan L. Jackson (D-IL) — portal
Rep. Norma J. Torres (D-CA) — portal
Rep. Kristen McDonald Rivet (D-MI) — portal
Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL) — portal
Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN) — portal
Rep. Jennifer L. McClellan (D-VA) — portal

Public testimony windows are active through May (no specific closing deadlines returned).

FY2027 Senate Appropriations budget hearings this week (May 12–14):

May 12 — Legislative Branch Subcommittee: Architect of the Capitol & Library of Congress (Dirksen 124, 10:00 AM)
May 12 — Commerce, Justice, Science Subcommittee: FBI, DEA, U.S. Marshals, ATF FY2027 budget requests (Dirksen 138, 2:00 PM)
May 13 — Agriculture/FDA Subcommittee: FDA FY2027 budget request (Dirksen 138, 10:30 AM)
May 13 — Interior/Environment Subcommittee: EPA FY2027 budget request (Dirksen 124, 10:30 AM)
May 13 — Financial Services/General Government Subcommittee: GSA FY2027 budget request (Dirksen 138, 2:00 PM)
May 14 — MilCon/VA Subcommittee: Military Construction & Family Housing FY2027 (Dirksen 124, 10:00 AM)
May 14 — Transportation/HUD Subcommittee: HUD FY2027 budget request (Dirksen 192, 10:00 AM)

Action item: Organizations with FY2027 funding priorities should submit written testimony to relevant Senate subcommittees immediately — the public testimony window is active and subcommittee markups are approximately 3 weeks away.

→ Pull the full FY2027 appropriations calendar and identify which subcommittees are closest to markup

→ Draft a public witness testimony submission for FY2027 appropriations

Senate Intellectual Property Subcommittee: Copyright Office Oversight Hearing (Tuesday)

The Senate Judiciary Intellectual Property Subcommittee holds a hearing on oversight of the U.S. Copyright Office on Tuesday, May 12 at 2:30 PM (Dirksen Senate Office Building, Room 226). This hearing comes amid ongoing congressional attention to AI and copyright issues.

→ Pull context on the Senate Copyright Office oversight hearing May 12 — what issues are likely to be raised

Senate Agriculture: Fertilizer Industry Hearing (Tuesday)

The Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee holds a hearing on "Perspectives on the Fertilizer Industry: Ensuring a Stable and Affordable Supply for American Producers" on Tuesday, May 12 at 3:00 PM (Dirksen Senate Office Building, Room 106). This hearing addresses supply chain and cost concerns for agricultural inputs.

Session Status

Both chambers are out of session today, Monday May 11. The House returns Tuesday, May 12. No Senate return date was confirmed in the schedule data. The next recess for both chambers is Memorial Day, beginning May 25, 2026.

Monday, May 11, 2026