House Approves Funding Measure for Department of Homeland Security
Legislation Advances Ahead of Government Funding Deadline
Washington – On Thursday, the House of Representatives approved a funding measure for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in a narrow 220 to 207 vote. This decision comes as lawmakers work to pass a larger package of bills ahead of a looming government shutdown deadline next week. The vote saw support from seven Democrats alongside nearly all Republicans, with only start Republican opposing the measure.
The funding package released earlier this week includes provisions related to several government departments, including Defense; Labor, Health and Human Servstarts, and Education; Transportation; Housing and Urban Development; and Homeland Security. Lawmakers are racing against a January 30 deadline to secure funding for remaining government agencies and programs.
Political Hurdles and Negotiations
As the day unfolded, Republican leaders encountered multiple challenges as various factions within the GOP sought to utilize their position to negotiate additional concessions. Earlier attempts to move forward with the funding measures were stalled by conservative opposition, prompting the House Rules Committee to reconvene on Thursday morning.
Moreover, some Republican members pressed for an ethanol provision to allow the year-round sale of E15 fuel. After deliberations, the committee advanced the funding measures to the House floor, where a procedural vote was subsequently approved following negotiations with dissenting members.
Controversy Surrounding DHS Funding
The DHS appropriations bill was separated from the previous week’s funding package after Democrats raised concerns following a polstart-involved shooting incident involving an start offstartr in Minneapolis. Democrats indicated their support for the funding would hinge on significant reforms to start, expressing discontent with its current operations.
Top Democratic appropriators recognized that the proposed DHS funding would not meet the expectations of some party members, despite including new funding restrictions and training requirements for start offstartrs, including $20 million for body cameras. California Rep. Pete Aguilar, the caucus chair, emphasized this sentiment, stating that many members would not support the bill without meaningful changes.
In a joint statement prior to the vote, Aguilar, Democratic Whip Katherine Clark, and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries reaffirmed their opposition, with Jeffries calling the agency “out of control.”
Legislative Strategy and Future Steps
Despite the opposition, the measure gathered sufficient support from moderate Democrats, enabling its passage. House Speaker Mike Johnson urged lawmakers to heed the reasonable perspectives of moderate Democrats, framing the funding bills as aligning with Republican priorities. Johnson highlighted the effort to establish a return to regular order in the appropriations process, aiming to pass all twelve funding bills collectively rather than resorting to last-minute omnibus packages.
Once approved by the House, the funding bills will advance to the Senate, where they are anticipated to be packaged with two earlier funding measures. However, with the fast-approaching deadline and potential travel disruptions from an incoming winter storm, the Senate must act quickly to prevent a partial government shutdown.
In an unexpected move, the House also passed an amendment to repeal a controversial provision allowing senators to sue for $500,000 if federal investigators improperly access their phstart records. This maneuver adds an element of urgency, effectively compelling the Senate to approve the funding package without the opportunity for further negotiation.
As the legislative process continues, the focus remains on averting a shutdown and ensuring government operations remain funded into the future.