June 6

This week in MORE POWER:

RIP Connolly
Budget Blow Ups
Tackling Opioids
Just Plain Business

We’re back! Did you miss us? The House and Senate were on recess last week but they’re back and we have all the updates.

RIP Connolly

Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA) died on May 21, 2025, at the age of 75 after a battle with esophageal cancer. He had represented Northern Virginia in Congress since 2009 and had already announced plans to retire at the end of his term. A special election to fill his seat in Virginia’s 11th District is set for September 9. Until then, the House is down one member, with 434 voting representatives, shifting the Republican majority to 220–212. Connolly had stepped down as the top Democrat on the Oversight Committee due to illness, with Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-MA) temporarily filling the role; potential successors include Reps. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX), Ro Khanna (D-CA), and Robert Garcia (D-CA). The Democratic Steering and Policy Committee will oversee the selection process for these committee positions, considering factors like seniority, caucus support, and leadership preferences.

The House passed H.R. 3490, the Gerald E. Connolly Esophageal Cancer Awareness Act, in his honor.

Budget Blow Ups

The Senate is debating the budget reconciliation package referred to by President Trump as “One Big Beautiful Bill,” after it passed the House on May 22 by a narrow 215-214-1. The legislation would extend Trump-era tax cuts, eliminate federal taxes on tips and overtime, increase military and border spending, and cut Medicaid, food assistance and clean energy programs. The Congressional Budget Office estimates it would add $2.4 trillion to the federal deficit over 10 years — or as much as $5 trillion if key tax breaks are made permanent. Some Senate Republicans, including Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), have raised concerns about the cost, while Senate Majority Leader John Thune, (R-S.D.), is pushing for a vote before the July 4 recess. Major fights remain over Medicaid cuts, green energy provisions and whether the bill complies with Senate reconciliation rules.

Elon Musk's negative comments about the bill set off a public and dramatic feud between him and Trump, but here we stick to policies and the impact they will have on your life, so we won't extend your five-minute read to cover the petty details.

Contact your Reps

Tackling Opioids

On June 4, the House overwhelmingly passed the Substance Use–Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment (SUPPORT) for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act, a bipartisan bill aimed at tackling the opioid crisis. It re-ups funding for prevention, treatment and recovery programs, including workforce incentives like the Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Recovery (STAR) Loan Repayment Program. The legislation also strengthens mental health services and supports community-based recovery efforts. With overdose deaths still topping 80,000 a year, this bill could have a tangible impact on healthcare access in many states. The Senate is expected to take it up later this month.

Just Plain Business

Aimed at simplifying federal contracting, the Plain Language in Contracting Act, passed this week. It requires that federal contracting opportunities for small businesses be written in clear, straightforward English. Supporters say this could open up access to the $180 billion federal procurement market for firms that don’t have a legal team on speed dial. The bill is part of a broader push to modernize how small businesses interact with the government. It’s gotten good buzz in business circles and could mean fewer barriers and more bids.

Now it heads to the Senate. Detractors worry that “plain language” could introduce vague or overly general phrasing, leading to misinterpretation or contract disputes. Others question how compliance will be measured and whether the bill could create more legal ambiguity in the long run.