H.R. 7617 explained · 119th Congress · Pending in Congress
To provide funding for administrative expenses of the Department of Homeland Security during any lapse in appropriations during fiscal year 2026, to require that the Department be responsive to congressional offices during such a lapse in appropriations, and for other purposes.
Cosponsors: 1 (1 D, 0 R) · per Congress.gov, 2026-10-09
Introduced: 2026-02-20
Latest action (2026-02-20): Referred to the House Committee on Appropriations.
What H.R. 7617 does, in plain terms
This bill provides appropriations to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for the administrative expenses necessary to operate the department for the duration of a lapse in appropriations. This includes appropriations for the DHS Office of Legislative Affairs and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Office of Congressional Relations. With respect to any lapse in appropriations during FY2026, DHS must use the funding provided by this bill to ensure that it performs all functions that would be performed in the absence of such a lapse, including responding to communications transmitted to DHS during the lapse by congressional offices. (There is currently a partial government shutdown in effect for DHS agencies and programs due to a lapse in FY2026 appropriations for DHS.)
Official summary by the Congressional Research Service, via Congress.gov.
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