This Week in Congress

Congress is not in session this week and last week, the Senate voted 70-29 passing a new $95 billion national security funding supplemental in Ukraine aid devoid of any border-security language.  House Speaker Johnson immediately slammed the brakes on the package, announcing he would not bring it up for a vote.  On Friday, Rep. Fitzpatrick (R-PA) unveiled a bipartisan $66 billion package, which includes $47.7 billion to help defend Ukraine from Russia; $10.4 billion to support the defense of Israel, including funding for the Iron Dome; $4.9 billion for the defense of allies in the Indo-Pacific; and $2.4 billion to back U.S. Central Command operations, including the conflict in the Red Sea.  Additionally, the package borrows language from the House GOP’s border bill, known as H.R. 2,” including resurrecting the ‘Remain in Mexico’ policy for asylum-seekers for one year.” Finally, behind the scenes, Immigration and Customs Enforcement is developing plans “to release thousands of immigrants and slash its capacity to hold detainees” if Congress cannot come up with more funding.

When Congress returns from the Presidents Day recess, they face the next challenge, which includes funding the government and avoiding a partial shutdown that could begin on March 1st.