What occurs after two chambers of Congress pass similar, but not identical, bills?

After both chambers of Congress pass similar, yet not identical, bills, the typical procedure is for a conference committee to be formed. This committee is made up of members from both the House of Representatives and the Senate and is tasked with reconciling the differences between the two versions of the legislation. The goal of the conference committee is to create a compromise bill that both chambers can agree upon.

Once this committee reaches an agreement, they produce a final version of the bill, which is then sent back to both chambers for a vote. This process ensures that all parties have had input and that the resulting legislation reflects a consensus. The creation of a compromise bill is a fundamental part of the legislative process, particularly when there are significant discrepancies in the bills passed by each chamber. This is why the passage of a compromise bill through a conference committee is the appropriate response in this situation.