This episode of Congress in Context explores how the legislative engine hums quietly behind the scenes, ensuring that essential public services—from traumatic brain injury research to small business contract protections—continue to advance even when the chamber floor is nearly empty. While the House and Senate met for a combined duration of less than three minutes on July 2, 2026, these brief pro forma sessions served as the necessary procedural mechanism to formally introduce 21 new bills and file over a dozen committee reports. By utilizing these maneuvers to move critical legislation like the Kay Hagan Tick Act and the INCLUDE Project for Down syndrome into the next phase of the lawmaking process, Congress prepares the groundwork for long-term health  ...