EIW Today - July 24th, 2025

Prism Group's Daily Summary

EARLY HOUSE RECESS MAKES CONTINUING RESOLUTION MORE LIKELY… The House’s decision to adjourn early for its August recess, having passed only two of the twelve required appropriations bills, significantly increases the likelihood of a continuing resolution (CR) to avoid a government shutdown at the end of the fiscal year. While Speaker Johnson maintains optimism that more bills will move out of committee, internal GOP divisions and legislative gridlock – exacerbated by a controversial measure related to the so-called “Epstein files” – have severely delayed the regular funding process. Some House conservatives are threatening to oppose any CR, while others are open to one under strict conditions, including preserving recent rescissions. With only a few legislative weeks remaining after recess, congressional leaders in both chambers are already signaling that a stopgap funding measure is increasingly inevitable.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ADVANCES LABOR REFORM AND STUDENT-ATHLETE BILLS… This week, the House Education and Workforce Committee passed a package of bills aimed at modernizing federal labor policy and expanding worker freedom. The legislation includes the Modern Worker Empowerment Act (H.R. 1319), which defines independent contractors using long-standing common law standards; the Modern Worker Security Act (H.R. 1320), which allows businesses to offer portable benefits without risking the reclassification of independent workers; and the Save Local Business Act (H.R. 4366), which restores a clear, narrow definition of joint employer to protect small businesses from expanded liability. These bills now await a vote on the House floor, likely when Congress returns in September.

PRESIDENT TRUMP DISMISSES COPYRIGHT AND STATE REGULATION OF AI… In light of the White House’s AI Action Plan, President Trump expressed his firm disavowal of AI copyright enforcement and state-level regulation. During “Winning the AI Race,” a summit hosted by the All-In Podcast and the Hill and Valley Forum, the president emphasized the urgency behind remaining competitive in the AI-race against China. He affirms this endeavor necessitates “do[ing] everything possible to expedite construction of all major AI infrastructure projects.” This plan entails fast-tracking federal permitting, scrapping barriers to the review process, and centralizing regulation under the federal umbrella – penalizing states that fail to adhere to such. Policy on AI copyright enforcement, though, remains up in the air, with administration officials saying they will leave the matter to the court’s discretion.

THE STATE OF THE STATES

SESSIONS BY THE NUMBERS: 

Eight legislatures are in regular session. Texas is in special session.

WHAT WE'RE WATCHING: 

New Hampshire Gov. Kelly Ayotte (R) has signed ten bills limiting local zoning restrictions to encourage more home construction. One bill allows homeowners to build accessory dwelling units; another requires cities to allow multi-family residential construction in commercial zones. A third prevents cities and towns from creating parking minimums for residential construction. 

The Texas House and Senate committees investigating this month’s deadly floods in the Hill Country held a nearly 12-hour hearing Wednesday, criticizing a local river authority for failing to move forward on plans to pursue a flood warning system. The state denied grant applications to the Upper Guadalupe River Authority to develop the warning system in 2017 and 2018.

LAWMAKERS... IN OR OUT? 

The House... convenes tomorrow at 11:00 AM. The full schedule may be found here. 

The Senate... convenes today at 10:00 AM. The full schedule may be found here. 

HAPPENING ON THE HILL  

The House...  

Committee on Ways and Means will hold a hearing Tomorrow, July 25th at 10:00 AM entitled, “The One, Big, Beautiful Bill Delivering for American Workers – Las Vegas, Nevada.”

The Senate...    

Committee on Appropriations will hold a hearing TODAY, July 24th at 10:00 AM entitled, “Full Committee Markup of Interior, Environment and Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Acts.” 

Committee on Health, Education, and Labor Pensions will hold a hearing TODAY, July 24th at 10:00 AM entitled, “Empowering Workers by Expanding Employee Ownership.”

Committee on Judiciary will hold a hearing TODAY, July 24th at 10:15 AM entitled, “Executive Business Meeting.” 

Committee on Foreign Relations will hold a hearing Tuesday, July 29th at 10:30 AM entitled, “Nominations.”

Committee on Foreign Relations will hold a hearing Wednesday, July 30th at 10:00 AM entitled, “Business Meeting.” 

Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs will hold a hearing Wednesday, July 30th at 10:00 AM entitled, “Guardrails and Growth: AI’s Role in Capital and Insurance Markets.” 

Committee on Health, Education, and Labor Pensions will hold a hearing Wednesday, July 30th at 10:00 AM entitled, “S. 2292, S. 1440, S.___, S.2301, S.1727, S.1728, and S.___.” 

Committee on Judiciary will hold a hearing Wednesday, July 30th at 10:00 AM entitled, “Nominations.” 

Committee on Foreign Relations, Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health Policy will hold a hearing Wednesday, July 30th at 2:30 PM entitled, “Critical Minerals: Finding Opportunities for U.S.-Africa Partnerships.”

Committee on Judiciary, Privacy, Technology, and the Law Subcommittee will hold a hearing Wednesday, July 30th at 3:00 PM entitled, “Protecting the Virtual You: Safeguarding American’s Online Data.”

BILLS OF INTEREST

Rep. Emilia Strong Sykes (D-OH-13) introduced HR 4740 to allow a deduction for certain overtime compensation. 

Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN-5) introduced HR 4714 to eliminate certain subsidies for fossil fuel production.

Rep. Mary Miller (R-IL-15) introduced HR 4706 to prohibit the acquisition and ownership of agricultural land and residential real property by certain foreign entities. 

Rep. Paul Gosar (R-AZ-9) introduced HR 4668 to end the liability shield for vaccine manufacturers. 

Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) introduced S.2411 to establish the Scale-Up Manufacturing Investment Program.

AT THE AGENCIES  

The U.S. Department of Labor 

The Department of Labor released its Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims Report. 

The U.S. Department of the Treasury 

The Senate has confirmed John Hurley to serve as the next Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence at the United States Department of the Treasury. 

The U.S. Department of Commerce 

Check back next time for possible updates.

The U.S. Trade Representative 

Stakeholders including American farmers, manufacturers, innovators, and producers released statements praising President Trump’s Framework for an Agreement on Reciprocal Trade with Indonesia.   

The U.S. Small Business Administration 

William Briggs has been sworn in as Deputy Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration. Briggs previously worked as Acting Associate Administrator for SBA’s Office of Capital Access during the first Trump administration. 

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