Tuesday, October thirteenth, 2026 — As lawmakers depart Washington to marketing campaign ahead of the November midterm elections, their legislative record provides voters a take a look at what Congress has completed — and what stays unfinished.
The 119th Congress has enacted main laws on taxes, immigration, cryptocurrency and the launch of data associated to Jeffrey Epstein. However different proposals, together with measures addressing electrical energy prices and first-time homeownership, have did not turn into regulation.
The excellence issues as candidates make their case to voters: introducing a invoice, passing it in a single chamber and enacting it into regulation are three various things.
Main laws that grew to become regulation
One of the most consequential measures was the One Huge Stunning Invoice Act, signed by President Donald Trump on July 4, 2025. The regulation prolonged tax cuts, modified federal spending and elevated the debt restrict.
Congress additionally handed the Laken Riley Act, which expanded obligatory detention necessities for sure noncitizens accused of or arrested for specified offenses.
WASHINGTON, DC – SEPTEMBER 16: U.S. Speaker of the Home Mike Johnson (R-LA) adjusts his glasses as he speaks to reporters exterior of his workplace at the U.S. Capitol on September 16, 2026 in Washington, DC. Johnson introduced the Home of Representatives will adjourn for his or her midterm recess right this moment and return after election day in November. (Photograph by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Pictures)
The GENIUS Act established a federal regulatory framework for cost stablecoins, a kind of cryptocurrency designed to take care of a secure worth.
And in November 2025, Trump signed the Epstein Files Transparency Act. The regulation requires the Justice Division to launch data associated to Epstein, topic to specified exceptions.
These legal guidelines symbolize important legislative motion. Nevertheless, their passage doesn’t essentially imply they resolve the affordability and financial considerations dealing with American households.
Information-center electrical energy prices and inventory buying and selling proposals stall
One outstanding instance of unfinished laws includes the value of powering synthetic intelligence.
The Home handed the Ratepayer Protection Act by a vote of 417-3. The measure sought to require states to think about protections supposed to forestall atypical electrical energy clients from bearing prices related to serving massive electrical energy customers, together with information facilities.
Information facilities devour substantial quantities of electrical energy, and assembly their energy calls for can require new technology capability, transmission traces and different grid upgrades. The talk facilities on how these prices needs to be distributed between know-how corporations and different electrical energy clients.
However the Senate didn’t advance the measure. On September 30, 2026, senators voted 57-43 on a procedural movement, falling quick of the 60 votes wanted to advance it.
WASHINGTON, DC – AUGUST 03: U.S. Senate Majority Chief John Thune (R-SD) talks to reporters as he arrives at the U.S. Capitol on August 03, 2026 in Washington, DC. The Senate is beginning its last week earlier than their five-week summer time recess and are anticipated to carry a vote on the nomination of President Donald Trump’s nominee for Legal professional Basic, Todd Blanche, in the coming days. (Photograph by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Pictures)
Even when enacted, the proposal wouldn’t have assured decrease family electrical energy payments. It could have required states to think about protections somewhat than routinely imposing the identical guidelines nationwide.
A separate proposal to limit inventory buying and selling by members of Congress additionally did not advance in the Senate. The measure grew to become one other instance of laws that obtained consideration however didn’t clear Congress.
What Congress has performed on housing affordability
Housing is one other space the place it is very important distinguish between enacted laws and proposals that stay unfinished.
Congress included provisions from the ROAD to Housing Act in the Nationwide Protection Authorization Act for Fiscal 12 months 2026. These provisions tackle facets of housing coverage, together with measures supposed to assist tackle obstacles to housing growth.
Such adjustments might assist tackle structural challenges in the housing market over time. However they don’t assure a direct drop in residence costs or present each potential purchaser with direct monetary help.
A separate proposal, the First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit Act of 2025, was launched in the Home however didn’t turn into regulation.
That distinction is especially vital for individuals attempting to purchase a house now. Lengthy-term adjustments to housing coverage are totally different from a tax credit score or different direct help that eligible patrons might declare.
What voters ought to know
As candidates focus on their legislative data ahead of the midterms, voters can consider these claims by checking three issues: whether or not a invoice grew to become regulation, what the laws truly requires and when its results is likely to be felt.
A regulation can change taxes or laws with out instantly reducing a household’s month-to-month bills. A proposal can entice bipartisan assist or move the Home with out ever taking impact. And laws supposed to handle an issue doesn’t essentially assure the consequence its supporters promise.
With lawmakers campaigning ahead of November’s elections, the file contains each important enacted legal guidelines and proposals left unfinished. Understanding the distinction helps voters assess what Congress has completed — and what stays to be performed.
