(The Center Square) – As the midterm election approaches, the current session of Congress is nearing an end.
Although time is running short, U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick, R-Pa., believes legislation can be finalized by the end of the year.
“Historically, the lame duck sessions are some of the most productive sessions in the history of the Senate, regardless of what happens in the election, because there's an opportunity to sort of make a deal and get a bunch of big things done,” McCormick said in response to a question from The Center Square on Oct. 15. “I'm hoping three big things get done.”
The first issue McCormick cited was funding the National Defense Authorization Act.
“Really important, particularly given what's going on in the world,” he said.
On July 14, the $1.15 trillion annual defense bill failed to reach the 60-vote threshold needed in the U.S. Senate, instead breaking 50-46. McCormick was among those in favor of the bill, while U.S. Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., was one of four lawmakers who didn’t vote at all.
According to The Hill, this legislation “usually enjoys strong bipartisan support, but this year has become snarled in a partisan fight over defense spending levels.”
U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker, a Republican who serves as the Senate Armed Services Committee Chair, criticized Democrats who voted against it as “unprecedented” and a “new low.”
Democrats who spoke out against this bill also cited the Iran War.
U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, a Democrat from Connecticut, voted against the bill, calling it a “war-funding authorization bill” and an “authorization for the Iran war.”
Although it failed to advance in the U.S. Senate, on July 22, the U.S. House passed the NDAA by a 216-212 vote. The decision fell along partisan lines for Pennsylvania’s delegation, with every Republican voting in support and every Democrat voting against it.
“President Trump and Secretary Hegseth have not earned Congress’s confidence,” said U.S. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, D-6th District on July 22. “I cannot and will not give them more money without accountability, more authority without restraint, or more opportunities to place American servicemembers at risk without a lawful mission and a coherent plan.”
Last year, the U.S. Senate voted to approve the annual defense bill in October, which included backing from McCormick, who described it as a “huge win” for Pennsylvania, given support for facilities like Hanwha Philadelphia Shipyard and Tobyhanna Army Depot.
The second issue McCormick highlighted was permitting reform.
“We're on the verge of it,” McCormick said. “The Democrats and Republicans have come to an agreement in the Senate on this.”
“That would be a game changer for Pennsylvania,” he added.
Punchbowl News reports that the next time the U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, a Republican, has set up an initial procedural vote on the bipartisan permitting reform bill for the Senate’s first day back in D.C. on Nov. 9.
As McCormick noted, the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act of 2026 to reform the federal environmental review and permitting process has bipartisan support. U.S. Sens. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Mike Lee, R-Utah, Chairman of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., Chairman of the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, and Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., argue their proposal will “deliver cheaper energy, more jobs, and responsible growth across the United States.”
However, at least one Pennsylvania Democrat has spoken out against the proposal.
U.S. Rep. Summer Lee, D-12th District, and other members of The People’s Environmental Justice Caucus, said they stand with “the nearly 200 community, labor, and environmental justice groups” against the proposal, calling it a “gift to Big Oil and Big Tech.”
McCormick has been outspoken on permitting reform since being elected to the U.S. Senate in 2024.
In late April, McCormick announced he would introduce legislation to streamline the federal permitting process so projects could stay on time and on budget. That proposal has support from building trades unions in Pennsylvania.
The final issue McCormick said he thinks could be addressed before the year’s end is the reconciliation package.
“Reconciliation 3.0, that allows us, I think, to pass the Save America Act or portions of the Save America Act,” McCormick said. “It's a really big deal for Republicans, but it's a really big deal for all voters.”
McCormick argued that Americans support establishing voter ID and proof of citizenship, which is included in the Republican-backed Save America Act.
FOX43 reports that the supporters of this bill say it is a “necessary step to secure elections, while opponents argue it could federalize election oversight and create barriers for voters.”
Fetterman, who has increasingly found common ground with McCormick on a wide range of issues, has also spoken out against this bill.
“83% of Americans agree on voter ID. 71% of Democrats agree on voter ID. Keep it basic: PHOTO ID to vote,” Fetterman said in March about the proposal. “Stop turning this into a Christmas list and attacking vote-by-mail. If the GOP wants real reform over a show vote––put out a clean, standalone bill and I’m AYE.”
The Save America Act passed the U.S. House in February, with the state’s congressional delegation voting along partisan lines.
In addition to the $10 billion fund aimed at incentivizing states to adopt elements of the SAVE America Act, Axios reported in July that the reconciliation package also includes $73 billion for the war in Iran and $12 billion in farm aid.
“The reason the reconciliation is important – that's a 51,” McCormick explained. “You need 51 votes to pass that, as opposed to the traditional 60 votes.”
“So, that's my hope, and I actually think there's a real shot at all three of those,” McCormick said, while explaining his support for the NDAA, permitting reform, and passing Reconciliation 3.0.
