Congress Returns Facing DHS Shutdown, SAVE Act Vote, and Middle East War Pressures

• Senate Republicans are preparing to advance the SAVE America Act, a voting overhaul that is a key priority for President Trump. • The legislation represents a significant voting system reform effort being led by the GOP-controlled chamber. • The measure is considered controversial, suggesting it will face Democratic opposition and potential legal challenges.

• Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel announced on national TV that Havana has held secret negotiations with the Trump administration due to a U.S. energy blockade causing power outages exceeding 30 hours in some areas. • The talks, confirmed Friday, stem from Cuba's economic collapse amid Trump's oil restrictions, pressuring the regime's 67-year command system. • Secretary of State Marco Rubio leads U.S. efforts, blaming Cuba's leadership while Florida's Cuban American community demands multiparty elections and prisoner releases.

• Senate Republicans are preparing to vote on the SAVE America Act, President Trump's key priority for overhauling voting procedures, as Congress returns from recess. • The legislation aims to implement stricter voter ID requirements and other election integrity measures pushed by Trump. • The vote comes amid broader congressional challenges including the ongoing DHS shutdown and Middle East tensions, heightening political stakes.

• Senate Republicans are set to take up the SAVE America Act, a voting overhaul legislation that represents a key priority for President Trump as part of his political agenda. • The bill aims to make significant changes to voting procedures and election administration across the United States. • The vote marks a major legislative push by the Republican-controlled Senate to advance Trump's election-related policy priorities.

• President Trump is suggesting he may delay his planned visit to China at month's end unless Beijing helps reopen the Strait of Hormuz and address soaring oil prices from the Iran war. • U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent met Monday in Paris with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng for trade talks intended to pave the way for Trump's Beijing trip, with a U.S.-China tariff truce currently in place. • Trump's administration is seeking international assistance with naval escort efforts in the strait after initial unilateral approaches proved insufficient as oil prices escalated.

• The Trump administration is using Section 301 of the 1974 Trade Act to investigate foreign factory capacity and forced labor, aiming to offset $1.6 trillion in tariff revenue lost due to a Supreme Court ruling on February 20. • Public hearings are scheduled for May 5 on factory capacity and April 28 on forced labor, with the goal to complete probes before the current 10% import tariffs expire in 150 days. • Trump imposed a temporary 10% tariff on all imports post-ruling, plans to raise it to 15%, but faces challenges from two dozen states; remaining tariffs on China, Canada, steel, lumber, and cars expected to yield $668 billion over a decade.

• President Donald Trump is experiencing political fallout two weeks after U.S. and Israel strikes on Iran, with rising U.S. soldier deaths and questions over securing the Strait of Hormuz. • Trump attended a closed-door fundraiser for his MAGA Inc. super PAC at Mar-a-Lago on Saturday after golfing, amid criticism for lacking long-term planning on the conflict. • Democrats like Kelly Dietrich of the National Democratic Training Committee predict strong midterm positioning, citing Trump's unfulfilled promises on prices amid rising gasoline costs.

• Virginia's 2026 General Assembly session ended Saturday without passing a state budget, prompting lawmakers to schedule a special session on April 23 amid ongoing affordability debates. • Key bipartisan achievements included raising the minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2028, protecting contraception access, extending back rent payment periods before eviction, closing the firearm 'boyfriend loophole,' and prohibiting federal immigration enforcement at courthouses. • Governor Abigail Spanberger faces complex bills on marijuana legalization, skill games, and casino regulations, potentially requiring stakeholder engagement through June; disagreements persist on data center tax exemptions and collective bargaining for public employees.

• Governor Abigail Spanberger praised the 2026 General Assembly's passage of bills reducing heating costs (HB2, SB72), establishing a Weatherization Task Force (HB3, SB5), empowering localities on affordable housing (HB4), and improving renter protections (HB15, SB48). • Additional successes include eliminating healthcare premium fees (HB220, SB630), promoting portable solar systems (HB395, SB250), optimizing grid utilization (HB434, SB621), expanding the Eviction Reduction Program (HB527, SB628), limiting prior authorizations (HB736), and boosting healthcare workforce access (HB815, SB405). • Further measures allow communities to adopt affordable housing programs (HB867, SB74), improve power forecasting (HB892), and increase energy storage deployment (HB895, SB448) to lower costs for Virginians.

• The U.S. Department of the Treasury issued its March 2026 congressional report under the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins Act of 2025, addressing innovative technologies to counter illicit finance in digital assets. • The report covers mixers, obfuscation services, and stablecoin transactions on distributed ledgers, aligning with Trump Administration priorities for privacy protection and reduced regulatory burden. • It outlines the Bank Secrecy Act framework, AML programs, and updates from the 2020 Anti-Money Laundering Act to strengthen regulations against money laundering and terrorism financing.

• House Committee on Financial Services Chairman French Hill (AR-02) and Housing and Insurance Subcommittee Chairman Mike Flood (NE-01) commended President Trump’s March 15, 2026, executive order removing regulatory barriers to affordable home construction. • The leaders noted the order aligns with bipartisan committee work over the past year to reduce building costs and boost housing supply through commonsense reforms. • They expressed intent to codify the executive order's objectives in upcoming congressional housing legislation to ensure lasting impact.