The Senate voted 52-47 last week to pass a $70 billion budget reconciliation package, focused on funding for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) through 2029; it does not include broader policy priorities or items directly relevant to senior living. The House is expected to take up the measure this week.
The budget reconciliation process allows Congress to pass a single package each fiscal year with simple majorities in both the House and Senate, thereby avoiding a Senate filibuster. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), signed into law last July, utilized the most recent fiscal year budget reconciliation vehicle, with the current ICE and CBP package utilizing the FY 2026 vehicle. If Republican lawmakers want to pass another party-line package, they could utilize the FY 2027 budget vehicle, which relates to legislation with a fiscal impact starting on October 1, 2026.
The process for advancing the package in the Senate exposed internal disagreements among Republicans, notably through votes taken during a lengthy “vote-a-rama” process, and potential challenges for a third budget reconciliation package. This process may have tempered expectations among Senate leadership to take up a potential third reconciliation bill, even as House leaders continue to explore options for a package later this year.
Importantly, the current reconciliation package does not include policies related to senior living, access to care, or housing investment. However, discussions around a potential third reconciliation package present opportunities that Argentum is actively engaging with lawmakers to advocate for inclusion of policies that:
- Improve affordability and access to long-term care
- Support investment in seniors housing and community development
- Ensure federal policy strengthens—not limits—access to assisted living and residential care options
While the path forward for additional reconciliation legislation is uncertain, it remains one of the few legislative vehicles available to advance major policy changes with a simple majority. Argentum will continue to work closely with policymakers to position senior living priorities for inclusion in any future reconciliation package.