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Congress Must Pass a Clean Budget with No Poison Pills

Every year, unscrupulous lawmakers try to sneak hundreds of harmful policies that have nothing to do with funding our government into the must-pass annual spending bills. Known as poison pill policy riders, these measures are little more than special favors for ideological extremists and big corporations. Most poison pill riders are highly controversial, wildly unpopular, and could not become law on their own merits. Hundreds of organizations have joined together under the umbrella of the Clean Budget Coalition to oppose the inclusion of poison pills and other toxic amendments in the annual spending bills.

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 Below are examples of poison pills in the spending bills drafted by House Republicans. All of these measures, and many more, must be removed from any final spending package.

School Threats - green

CJS Sec. 549 would block a Justice Department memo that protects school administrators, board members, teachers, and staff from threats of violence.

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News and Resources

The Shutdown Deal Is Killing Food Safety Rules
The Lever / Jacobin: November 12, 2025

The Bill to Reopen the Government Would Shut Down These THC Products
Axios: November 12, 2025

Thune Secures Provision in Government Funding Bill Letting Senators Sue for Phone Records Seizure
Politico: November 10, 2025

House Republicans Have Added 325 Poison Pills to Spending Bills This Year
The Dallas Morning News: September 6, 2025

Forty-One Senators Call on Appropriators to Reject Anti-Environment Poison Pills
Senate Environment and Public Works Democrats: July 24, 2025

House Republicans Eye Restrictions on D.C. Traffic Safety, Abortion and More
Washington Post: July 22, 2025

From Traffic to Vasectomies, Congress Takes Aim at DC
Roll Call: July 22, 2025

House Republicans Take Aim at DC Climate Lawsuit
Politico Pro: July 22, 2025

EHN: “I am Outraged at the Number and Scope of Anti-D.C. Home Rule Riders in the Bill”
Prince of Petworth: July 21, 2025

Congress Has a New List of Proposed D.C. Interventions
Axios: July 21, 2025

House Appropriators Advance $38B Interior-EPA Bill to Full Committee
Politico Pro: July 15, 2025

House Republicans’ Release of FY26 Anti-Environmental House Appropriations Bills Will Harm Communities and Raise Costs
League of Conservation Voters: July 14, 2025

House Interior Appropriations Bill Contains Devastating Attacks on Wildlife
Defenders of Wildlife: July 14, 2025

More Than 220 Groups Tell Congress: Pass a Clean Budget
Clean Budget Coalition: July 8, 2025


Contact Us

David Rosen, drosen@citizen.org, (202) 588-7742