The U.S. House of Representatives has narrowly approved a sweeping federal spending package that will fund the bulk of government operations for the 2025–2026 fiscal year, with Congressman Cliff Bentz voting in favor of the measure.
The legislation, known as H.R. 7148, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026, passed the House by a vote of 217 to 214 following approval of a Senate amendment. The vote marks a significant milestone in the annual appropriations process, completing eleven of the twelve required funding bills for the current fiscal cycle.
The measure provides funding across a broad range of federal agencies and programs, including the Department of Defense, Financial Services and General Government, the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, as well as National Security initiatives, the Department of State and related programs, and Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development. In total, the package carries an overall price tag of approximately $1.18 trillion.
The only remaining appropriations bill yet to be finalized covers the Department of Homeland Security. Although that bill has already cleared the House, it is currently being held in the Senate amid ongoing discussions between the White House and Senate Democratic leadership concerning immigration enforcement policies. Congressional leaders have indicated that negotiations are continuing, with the expectation that a resolution will be reached to complete the fiscal year’s funding responsibilities.
Supporters of the bill have emphasized the process used to assemble the legislation. Under House Speaker leadership and Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole, lawmakers followed what is commonly referred to as “regular order,” a committee-driven approach that includes hearings, markups, and debate before measures reach the House floor. Advocates say this process allows for broader member participation and greater transparency compared to more centralized methods used in past Congresses.
In a statement following the vote, Bentz described the measure as the product of months of bipartisan and bicameral negotiations. He said the House worked to fund the government in what he characterized as a member-driven, district-focused manner, adding that returning to regular order ensures Congress fulfills its constitutional responsibility to appropriate funds in a transparent and accountable way. Bentz also expressed confidence that ongoing discussions will allow lawmakers to finalize funding for Homeland Security in the near future.
For Oregon, the financial implications of the legislation are substantial. While exact state-by-state allocations are not yet finalized, preliminary estimates suggest that between $16 billion and $22 billion in federal funding directed to Oregon programs and initiatives may be included within the broader spending package. Those funds typically support a range of activities, including defense-related projects, transportation infrastructure, housing assistance, healthcare services, education programs, and workforce development efforts.
Federal appropriations play a critical role in supporting state and local governments, school districts, public health systems, and community development projects throughout Oregon. Defense spending in particular can have ripple effects in regions connected to military installations, research facilities, and supply chains, while transportation and housing funds often contribute to highway improvements, public transit operations, and affordable housing construction.
The narrow margin of the House vote underscores the continuing partisan divisions surrounding federal spending levels and policy priorities. Fiscal conservatives have expressed concerns about overall spending totals and long-term federal deficits, while others have argued that stable and predictable funding is essential to maintaining government services and economic stability.
With eleven of twelve appropriations measures now completed, Congress has avoided the need for extended short-term funding extensions for most federal agencies. Attention now turns to the pending Homeland Security bill, which will determine final funding levels for border security, immigration enforcement, disaster response, and related national security functions.
As negotiations continue, lawmakers from both parties face pressure to conclude the appropriations cycle and provide clarity to federal agencies, states, and communities that rely on consistent funding streams. For Oregon’s Second Congressional District, Bentz’s support signals continued backing for the broader spending framework as Congress works to close out the fiscal year’s budget agenda.