House Passes $95 Billion Budget and Congressional Stock Ban

The United States House of Representatives passed the Budget Resolution for Reconciliation 3.0, known as the SAVE and Protect America Act, on July 23, 2026, in a 216-214 vote. The $95 billion blueprint allocates $73 billion for defense spending to support the U.S.-Iran conflict, $12 billion for farm assistance, and $10 billion to incentivize states to adopt stricter election security measures.

Republicans intend to use the budget reconciliation process to advance priorities of President Donald Trump, specifically the SAVE America Act's goals of mandating proof of citizenship and voter ID. While some lawmakers suggested forcing or bribing states to comply, analysts noted that reconciliation may only allow for incentive grants rather than mandates. The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget warned the spending could add $130 billion to the national debt over a decade.

In a separate 232-198 vote, the House passed a bill limiting stock market trading by members of Congress. This measure is linked to a controversial election reform provision requiring tougher voter ID laws. House Democrats criticized the budget for funding military operations the Trump administration was legally told to halt and labeled the stock ban and voting provisions as voter suppression and a failure to address the cost of living.