Experts forecast that voter turnout for the 2018 midterm elections could reach a record-high 50 percent--surpassing the current record of 49 percent voter turnout in 1966. The spike in voting may be a result of the high number of candidates running for office this year, especially the record number of female candidates. Additionally, high interest among voters, voter engagement, and early voting opportunities foreshadow a record turnout. 
 

A bill to fight the opioid crisis. Sponsored by Representative Greg Walden (R-OR-02), the Senate passed the final version of a bill to fight the opioid crisis, the Substance Use-Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment for Patients and Communities Act (H.R. 6). This bipartisan bill was passed by Congress by a vote of 98 to 1. The legislation requires U.S.Postal Service to test international packages for drugs and allows Medicare to cover opioid treatment programs. President Trump is expected to sign the bill into law. 

Congress refuses to fund border wall between US and Mexico. Congress passed an $854 billion funding bill to support government operations and agencies. The bill passed in the House by a vote of 361-61, and in the Senate 93-7. It provides over $650 billion for national defense and labor and health programs until December 7, 2018. However, the bill provides no funding for President Trump's border wall, at least not until after December. The President is expected to sign this bill into law.

Congress fails to pass a new Farm Bill. The current farm bill, legislation which sets federal agricultural and food policy,  expired two weeks ago, without a new farm bill to replace it. The House and the Senate were unable to reconcile their latest versions of the bill and do not intend to vote on a new one until after the midterm elections. One of the key points of tension was whether the bill should include tougher work requirements to participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which provides for food stamps. While the House version included such requirements, the Senate version does not. The 2014 farm bill took approximately 21 months for Congress to pass and 2018 is expected to take just as long.