Senate approves funding for Homeland Security, except ICE and Border Patrol
It’s our good news Friday, and let’s start with good news for people working security at America’s airports and the travelers trying to get through that security to their flights.
Shortly after 2 a.m. on Friday, senators agreed by unanimous consent to approve legislation to fund all of the Department of Homeland Security through the end of the fiscal year, except Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Border Patrol, reports The Wall Street Journal.
The legislation, which didn’t include any changes to immigration enforcement policies, now must be passed by the House, which is expected to take it up later on Friday.
The Senate action to end a more-than-monthlong spending lapse came hours after President Trump said he would sign an executive order to free up money to pay Transportation Security Administration workers.
Many unpaid security workers have been calling in sick and others have quit, increasing delays for airline passengers.
And lawmakers have been scrambling to address the issue before leaving for a two-week recess.
“We can get at least a lot of the government opened up again and then we’ll go from there,” Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said. “Obviously, we’ll still have some work ahead of us.”
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. said the opening of DHS without immigration enforcement could have been reached weeks ago, and said that his party would continue fighting to ensure Trump’s “rogue” immigration operation “does not get more funding without serious reform,” The Associated Press reports.
Democrats have said Republican proposals haven’t gone far enough to put guardrails on ICE officers, Border Protection, and other federal agencies that are engaged in the immigration sweeps, especially after the deaths of two Americans protesting the actions in Minneapolis.
Democrats want federal agents to wear identification, remove their face masks and not conduct raids around schools, churches or other sensitive places. They also have pushed for an end of administrative warrants, insisting that judges sign off before agents search people’s homes or private spaces — something new Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin has said he’s open to considering.
Good news from our friends at Fix the News
One of the items in this edition is in the “every problem has a gift” category, from a climate change point of view.
“The Iran war is turning energy security into an electrification story. As oil and gas prices surge, countries with more solar, batteries and EVs are proving less exposed,” Fix the News says.
Robert Reich has a question
He’s asking us in his post this morning, “Will you protest tomorrow?”
Well, I believe what it says above the entrance to the Supreme Court building: equal justice under law.
So, yes, Robert, I will.
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KFF: Trump administration claims successes against Affordable Care Act fraud while pushing for more controls
KFF: Federal funding for rural health could trigger service cuts
You can call the Capitol switchboard, (202) 224-3121, and be connected to the offices of your representative and senators. To email your House member and your two senators, you can connect to their websites at Congress.gov. Most lawmakers seem to only accept emails from their constituents, but these leaders accept emails from Americans nationwide, at:
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer
Senate Majority Leader John Thune