Stalled bills, looming shutdown: Why it matters that there's no House speaker

In late September, a rare bipartisan bill was nearing the finish line in the House.

The draft legislation, which had been in the works for months, would penalize hospitals, labs and surgical centers if they didn't publicly list their prices.

While a key part of the bill, introduced by Republican Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, wouldn't take effect until 2026 -- the government would need time to work with hospitals on compliance -- lawmakers felt that they had found a concrete way of helping Americans to avoid landing in medical debt.

After months of staff negotiations, the bill emerged from three separate committees as a bipartisan triumph. Supporters believed they could easily push the legislation through the House with the right maneuvering.

Then, everything on the House floor stopped.

A revolt by a small group of far-right Republicans nearly shut down the government and led to the ouster of the top GOP leader. The unprecedented move to unseat House Speaker Kevin McCarthy turned half of Congress into a rudderless ship.