Today on the Hill: Uncertainty Rises on Border Supplemental Bill

Congressional leaders are facing headwinds within their respective parties on a bill that would seek to fulfill President Donald Trump’s priorities on the U.S.-Mexico border. House Democrats are considering pulling their $4.5 billion measure — which includes less money for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and extra oversight demands — amid resistance from the Progressive and Hispanic Caucuses over the President’s recent actions pertaining to deportation. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) could bring his bipartisan $4.6 billion supplemental appropriations bill to the floor for a vote as soon as today, yet fellow Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) could hold up the upper chamber’s bill over objections to the lack of offsets. The intraparty divisions could push consideration of the border supplemental past the Independence Day district work period.

On the floor, the House is expected to pass the second appropriations “minibus” later today after lawmakers cleared the final batch of amendments to the Transportation-Housing and Urban Development (HUD) section of the five-bill package yesterday. Meanwhile, the Senate is expected to begin amendment debate on its version of the National Defense Authorization Act (S. 1790). A full list of the pending amendments to the $750 billion bill can be accessed here.