House cancels votes, cutting week short before adjourning until after midterms

TL;DR

House votes scheduled for Thursday have been canceled by Speaker Mike Johnson, shortening the work week.
Lawmakers will be away from Washington for over six weeks, until after the November midterm elections.
The cancellation aims to avoid potentially controversial votes and intraparty fighting before the election.
Legislation on new Russia sanctions and consumer protection from data center energy costs were expected to be voted on.
Republican Rep. Ralph Norman criticized the cancellation, calling it unacceptable and questioning the extended time off.
Rep. Thomas Massie introduced articles of impeachment against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, with the vote now pushed to November.
Democrats called for canceling the recess to address advancements in artificial intelligence, but Johnson suggested AI companies should self-regulate.
Key spy authority, Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, remains unrenewed.
The Senate is expected to continue working on legislation, including a college sports bill and permitting reform.

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