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Senate Stalemate Delays Resolution on Government Shutdown

Source 1: Fox News, Source 2: CNBC

IRS Staffing Reductions May Impact Taxpayer Services Amid Shutdown

Source 1: CNN, Source 2: New York Post

Pentagon Updates Regarding Press Guidelines

Source 1: Newsmax, Source 2: PBS News

Share your act of courage this week to be included in next week’s update — you can even backdate your act to September 8th.

Add your Act of Courage

Vote Smart provides easy access to congressional and state voting records and maintains a collection of key votes grouped by issue. Vote Smart uses the following criteria to select key votes:

The vote should be helpful in portraying how a member stands on a particular issue.
The vote should be clear for any person to understand.
The vote has received media attention.
The vote was passed or defeated by a very close margin.

Click Here for the Key Votes Visualization

Congress

Congress – Senate Cloture Not Invoked S 2882 – Continuing Appropriations and Extensions and Other Matters Act, 2026

Congress – Senate Cloture Not Invoked HR 5371 – Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2026

Congress – Senate Motion Agreed H J Res 104 - Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Bureau of Land Management relating to "Miles City Field Office Record of Decision and Approved Resource Management Plan Amendment"

State

Pennsylvania (PA) – House Passed HB 997 - Requires Companies That Collect Personal Data to Take Steps to Protect it From Hacking

California (CA) – Governor Gavin Newsom Signed SB 81 – Prohibits Immigration Enforcement from Obtaining Medical Information from Healthcare Providers without a Valid Warran

North Dakota (ND) – Governor Kelly Armstrong Signed SB 2354 – Requires All Public and Private Schools to Follow the Statewide Student Cellphone Ban

For full details on each bill, visit our Vote Smart Issue Summary page.

Republican Matt Van Epps and Democrat Aftyn Behn won their party’s respective primaries on Tuesday for Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District. Van Epps, an Army veteran and former member of Governor Bill Lee’s administration, won the nomination for his party over 10 other candidates and with President Donald Trump’s endorsement. Behn, a state representative and social worker from northeastern Nashville, won her nomination over half a dozen other Democrats. Both candidates will face four independent candidates for the seat vacated by former Representative Mark Green.

Democrat Claire Celsi, a state senator from West Des Moines, Iowa, passed away on Monday from complications of an undisclosed illness after being admitted into hospice care two weeks ago. Elected to her first term in 2018, she represented the 16th district and was elected Assistant Democratic Leader earlier this year. Governor Kim Reynolds will have the responsibility of calling a special election to replace Celsi in the senate.

This week, there was a special primary election for Congress in Tennessee. Click on the link below to view the results:

Tennessee Special Congressional Primary Election, District 7

Thanks to your incredible reviews, we are excited to share that we’ve been recognized as one of the 2025 Best Nonprofits by GreatNonprofits! This honor will be officially promoted by GreatNonprofits after October 31st. This achievement is because of you—our supporters—who took the time to share your stories and experiences with Vote Smart. Your voices made this recognition possible, and we are deeply grateful.