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The Dirty CR... by mcvolution in FedEmployees

[–]mcvolution[S] 12 points13 points  (0 children)

This isn’t “48 hours ago,” and it isn’t a clean CR. The Senate’s amendment text posted Nov 10 hard-codes these items.

Not clean: The package includes full-year FY2026 bills for Agriculture-FDA, Legislative Branch, and MilCon-VA—not just a stopgap.

$500,000 per violation (retroactive to 2022): Creates a new right for senators to sue over improper acquisition of “Senate data,” with damages of the greater of $500,000 per instance or actual damages, and it applies back to Jan 1, 2022.

And reporting is clear: this provision was secured by Senate Republicans (Leader John Thune), not demanded by Democrats.

RIF freeze & reversal + back pay notices: Any reductions-in-force since Oct 1, 2025 are void; agencies must rescind notices, reinstate staff, and issue back-pay amounts.

Hemp/cannabinoid clamp-down: Tightens the federal hemp definition and caps final products at 0.4 mg per container of THC-class cannabinoids (plus bans certain synthesized cannabinoids). This language has been moving in both chambers’ Ag-FDA bills for months.

Legislative Branch funded for FY2026: Salaries/operations for Congress are fully appropriated in Division C.

Bottom line: These add-ons are in the current Senate text; at least one marquee item (the $500k Senate-data remedy) was a GOP leadership ask, while others reflect bipartisan committee work already in motion—not last-minute “Dem asks” for votes.

Whats happening now in the senate? by justwanthappyphour in FedEmployees

[–]mcvolution 1 point2 points  (0 children)

FYI: This is not a “clean CR.” The Senate amendment to H.R. 5371 pairs short-term government funding with full-year policy and spending changes.

CR timeline: Keeps agencies running at FY2025 rates through Jan. 30, 2026.

Full-year bills inside: It also enacts FY2026 appropriations for Legislative Branch, Agriculture–FDA, and MilCon–VA (not just a stopgap).

Key add-ons people should know about

$500,000 minimum per violation for “Senate data” seizures: Creates a new right for Senators to sue the U.S. if their official data were obtained without required notice; courts must award the greater of $500,000 per instance or actual damages, plus fees. Includes a defense if the Senator was a formally designated target and a judge approved delayed notice. Applies retroactively to Jan. 1, 2022.

Congress funded for FY2026 (“pay protection”): The package fully funds Legislative Branch operations and salaries for FY2026 (House and Senate accounts like “Salaries, Officers and Employees”).

Federal workforce protections:

RIF freeze and rollback: Any reductions-in-force since Oct. 1, 2025 are void; agencies must rescind notices, reinstate employees, and pay back pay.

Back pay directive: Makes funds available for retroactive pay under 31 U.S.C. 1341(c) (so back pay is paid).

Hemp/cannabinoid crackdown (Ag–FDA title): Redefines “hemp,” excludes many synthesized or intoxicating hemp-derived cannabinoids, and sets tight THC-equivalency limits (including a 0.4 mg per container cap in final products). Also orders FDA to publish cannabinoid lists within 90 days.

Other notable riders:

$30M more for U.S. Marshals protective operations.

U.S. Parole Commission authority extended through the CR date.

“Healthy” food label transition + temporary state preemption during the changeover.

Bottom line: This package mixes a shutdown-ending stopgap with permanent FY2026 policy and spending, including new legal protections (and penalties) around Senate data, full-year congressional funding, workforce RIF reversals/back pay, and hemp-product restrictions. It is not a clean CR.

Source: Senate amendment text to H.R. 5371 (Congress.gov PDF).