Senate Committee Strikes Bipartisan Deal On $4.6 Billion Border Bill
Meanwhile, the House is working on its own legislation to address the border crisis
The Senate Appropriations Committee approved a $4.6 billion emergency spending bill to address the border crisis. Approval was achieved only after explicit wording was included that prevents diverting any of the monies to the building of the wall. The bill will move to the Senate next week for a vote.
A Senate panel gave its approval Wednesday to President Trump’s $4.6 billion request for funding to tackle the escalating humanitarian crisis at the southern border — but only after funding for a wall was pulled to get Democratic approval.
The Senate Appropriations Committee approved the bill in a 30-1 vote, sending it to the Senate floor for a vote next week.
The bill contains $2.9 billion to care for unaccompanied minors crossing the border and an additional $1.3 billion to care for adult asylum seekers and migrants.
The Washington Examiner reports that it also included $1.1 billion for Customs and Border Protection to “improve conditions at border entry points” and for “transportation, medical care and items like clothing, baby formula and other essential items.” It also includes $65 million for new immigration judges and to educate migrants on the legal process.
But agreement on the Committee only came after Chairman Richard Shelby, R-Ala., agreed to drop requests for more detention beds and to a provision that blocks money from being diverted to a wall on the border.
The bill includes new immigration judges and various means of funding all aspects of care for illegal aliens and asylum seekers.
The Washington Examiner reports:
Below are many of the details in the package before the committee:
- $65 million to hire 30 new immigration judges and help educate detained immigrants on the legal process.
- $155 million to U.S. Marshals Service for prisoner transportation, housing, care.
- $1.1 billion for Customs and Border Protection to improve conditions at border entry points, transportation, medical care and items like clothing, baby formula and other essential items.
- $204 million to Immigration and Customs Enforcement for transportation of illegals, medical care, and “alternatives to detention.”
- $30 million to the Federal Emergency Management Agency for the care of “homeless migrants.”
- $2.88 billion to the Department of Health and Human Services for the care of unaccompanied alien children.
In making the case for the UAC funding, the leadership noted that 51,000 children have referred to HHS through May, a 60% increase over last year.
Addressing the compromises required to approve the bill in the small—relative to the Senate, and if it passes there, the House—appropriations committee, members note that neither side got everything they wanted.
The Senate committee vote was 30-1, with only Sen. Jeff Merkley, a Democrat from Oregon, voting nay.
The bill included several provisions Democrats had sought, but also leaves intact money for immigrant detention and the continued military presence at the border. The money would go across four departments — Justice, Homeland Security, Defense, and Health and Human Services.
“This package does not include everything I wanted; it does not include everything Vice Chairman Leahy wanted,” Sen. Richard C. Shelby, R-Ala., who chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee, said in his opening remarks. “But most importantly, it does not include poison pills from either party,” he said.
Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chairman Patrick J. Leahy, D-Vt., said: “This package is a humanitarian package to address the desperate needs on our southern border, and it is a good faith compromise.”
The bill is expected to pass the Senate, but its future in the House is less certain. Indeed, the House is working on its own bill to address the border crisis and hopes to get theirs passed in the House before the Senate bill is passed.
Roll Call continues:
On the Senate floor Wednesday, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said he expected the supplemental to be a “slam dunk.”
“We’re talking about money for non-controversial purposes, mostly humanitarian efforts,” he said.
Without elaborating, House Appropriations Chairwoman Nita Lowey, D-N.Y., said there were differences between the Senate’s approach and what House Democrats would support.
“While House Democrats are still reviewing the Senate border supplemental legislation, my colleagues and I have concerns with the Senate bill as currently written,” Lowey said. “We are continuing to work diligently to finalize legislation to address the humanitarian crisis at the southern border, with a view to bringing a House bill to the floor next week.”
. . . . “We’re hoping the House is going to move first,” Roybal-Allard said Wednesday. “That’s what we’re working on right now. … There’s some minor details we’re working out with the Republicans, but our hope is it will be bipartisan.”
House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer confirmed Roybal-Allard’s comments, suggesting Democrats do not want to leave for the July Fourth recess without passing humanitarian aid.
“We’d like to move on it in a bipartisan way so we can pass it in the House and the Senate and go to the president and he can sign it,” the Maryland Democrat said. “If that’s not possible, I would hope that we would pass our own version of what we think that humanitarian relief is and a very substantial number because there’s a crisis that we deal with and we want to deal with.”
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Comments
A bipartisan deal that managed to scrape together $4.6 billion in order to secure American civil rights, lives, and dignity. Here’s to progress.
More like….
“Here’s to the Return to the Founders’ Intent and Common Sense!”
Are you insane? This is a massive welfare bill for illegal immigrants. So far, I see nothing that addresses the immigration problem itself. Uniparty wins again.
Trump better get his act together on immigration. I don’t want to hear him crowing about this “beautiful” bill. It was an utter failure.
So vote for his opponent. That’ll work. Because there’s only one choice after that.
That’s exactly the kind of squishy thinking that keeps the uniparty in power. “We don’t have a choice”. Really? That’s it? It’s A or B?
You mean the GOP primary opponent don’t you?
Phil, You are so right!!!!This bill is almost entirely money to give welfare to illegals and asylum seekers. Nothing for real enforcement! And they wonder why citizens are going crazy. Day after day crap like this comes out.
I’m sick over this.
If Trump signs this he’s as bad as Mitch, that double-dealing gangster.
Dear Black Americans,
We were going to send you all big reparations checks. But, unfortunately, we spent all the money on Illegal Immigrants.
However, please realize that you do have our sincerest apologies.
Congress
“American civil rights” gimme a break. They break in then claim their civil rights?
These lousy con artists. All this bill does is add incentives to cross illegally. If Trump wants to keep his base he must say “If it does not provide for a complete wall, and no changes in amnesty claim admissions, which are 90%+ phony, then this bill is DOA.” What a disgrace and insult to American citizens.
“But most importantly, it does not include poison pills from either party,” he said.”
I.e., you can’t use it against us in the next election.
Weasels. Let’s work to make illegals comfortable, the safety of Americans notwithstanding.
“make illegals comfortable”
We need to change how we handle one foot on our soil from detention to immediate transport to the nearest semi mounted human cannon, and promptly send them back over the border.
This would make a great TV series, most tragic landings, funniest launches (with sound effects).
There should be a moratorium on any new immigration from the south until all the existing illegals have been brought to justice.
Yes the immigration laws are a massive temptation for aliens to break in here. But of course they won’t change, and the Flores agreement will remain in force, just as Obama cleverly intended.
When’s Shelby’s term up? Can Alabama replace him without risking a Democrat like Doug Jones winning the seat? Shelby seems to have flipped. He used to be good.
It is an absolute disgrace to us as American citizens that we ask the question of whether some scum bag can be replaced in a state that must have 10 million people. Are that few Americans willing to step forward and in a peaceful manner, save our republic?!?
If not us, who? If not now, when?
This does nothing but encourage more illegal entries into the country.
I hope Trump doesn’t sign this. It’s a BS spending package that does nothing to improve the invasion across our borders by people being bused and trucked through Mexico from leftist organizations who are purposely overwhelming the systems.
Any time I see “Bipartisan deal” I figure it is really only a Democrat wish list that spineless Republicans signed on to. Given what this spending is doing, it is just that.
Pathetic.
Civil rights dies with Democrats. Republicans, too? Maybe…
looks like the new Migration officer for Mexico is kicking butt(aiming for 2,500 a day returned to home countries), and telling NGOs to welcome 50 migrants apiece into their own houses.
Baby steps.
Emigration reform to mitigate the risk of immigration reform and collateral damage at both ends of the bridge and throughout. I wonder if instead of a wall, erecting a string of neighborhood abortion chambers with the posted remains of planned babies…. fetuses, would ward of liberal spirits hiding in the twilight’s darkness (penumbras and emanations).
Hell no. How about we change the law and take them straight to the nearest airport and a one way ticket home and a 10 year ban on any attempts to come back? I’ll fund that.
Deportation by human cannon would be far less expensive, and designed properly they would be injured enough that they would think twice before trying again.
My understanding is, due to the overcrowding, the people invading our southern border are being transported by air to destinations around the country. That being the case, it seems easy enough to just head south instead of any other direction with that plane.
I keep saying …. we need a good insurrection in this country …. legal or otherwise …. to do what the gubmint won’t! This is a continued INVASION …. supported by both parties. I endorse LARGE SCALE action by patriots, because there is strength in numbers. What will the gubmint do if 2,000,000 armed patriots man the border and fire at any invader? What will the gubmint do if 2,000,000 armed patriots practice the 3S SOLUTION, which is shoot, shovel, and shut-up?
Why are our politicians fundamentally changing the make-up of America? I’m hoping for an incident to light the fuse and blow the powder keg sky high.
Veto.
Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chairman Patrick J. Leahy, D-Vt., said: “This package is a humanitarian package to address the desperate needs on our southern border, and it is a good faith compromise.”
The bad faith opposition to emigration reform, and backers of mass migration and other acts of immigration reform, can be addressed separately.
Leahy can be counted on to say the wrong thing.
Leahy is the Vice Chairman of the Appropriations Committee. The Chairman is GOP scumbag Richard Shelby. Who is the bigger scumbag? Charter members of the corrupt uniparty establishment. Come on Trump, suck it up. Tell us you are going to veto this bill before it gets to the Senate floor. This is THE ISSUE that got you elected. Is you is or is you isn’t? WTF?!?!?!?!
The process is that the President doesn’t even get to veto things unless they’re passed by Congress.
What I said was:
“Tell us you are going to veto this bill before it gets to the Senate floor.”
I didn’t say “veto it” before it gets to the Senate floor. Make it clear that this bill has no chance of being approved without overriding his veto. Just imagine what the “compromise” version will look like after it comes out of joint committee. And the Senate bill hasn’t been marked up yet either.
4.6 billion to create incentives FOR illegal immigration.
Not a penny towards deterring border crossing or favoring LEGAL immigration.
What could ever possibly go wrong?
Did Trump say he would veto anything that didn’t have wall funding in it? I remember something like that but am not sure of the context.
Why is McConnell not cooperating with him? Here we are still with the Flores agreement and no change in the laws, and the only thing the Senate is passing is humanitarian aid and paying to teach these unwanted how to game our immigration rules.
Yeah, I’m not sure why anyone would think this is good news.
The House is going to write its own bill that is even less of a compromise then use this one to say they “tried to meet in the middle”.
‘A Senate panel gave its approval Wednesday to President Trump’s $4.6 billion request for funding to tackle the escalating humanitarian crisis at the southern border — but only after funding for a wall was pulled to get Democratic approval.’
Sounds like Washington double-speak. Don’t we have enough votes in this committee to push it through without Dem support? What is going on here?
Please, Trump, close the southern border and shut down the federal government until we get funds for the wall. This *is* the hill to die on.
For the life of me, I just don’t understand why he always backs down on this. Uniparty deals are not “bipartisan”. They are business as usual.
Trump was handed a massive mandate in 2016 to close the border. Whatever it might trigger from the left to do so is irrelevant. Let the House impeach him. Any senator who votes for impeachment is a goner next time up for re-election. At the ballot box, it would be a major win to campaign on for 2020. At least have the courage to VETO BAD BILLS!
Do you understand how our lawmaking process works? This was a collapse by the Senate, not Trump. But it puts more pressure on Trump, because it means he’ll face a bad bill that he has to veto or allow to become law. And if he vetoes it he’ll be accused of being mean to those poor vulnerable illegal immigrants who break in here and then desperately need a lot of services from us.
Dear Phil:
It’s very clear why Trump does what he does on this. The media are 99% opposed to him. Despite his tweeting, he has an uphill battle.
He doesn’t want the opposition media to pound him day and night until next November on how inhumane he was to the illegal aliens. The low info voters will never know they were snookered.
This doesn’t fix anything, it pays for some of the ongoing damage done by the Feb 15 omnibus bill which was effectively open borders carte blanche, passed 83-16. The is nothing for border security in this, just nicer accommodations for the invaders the GOP and DNC both welcome. The House version will be much worse and it will be the measure adopted, probably full amnesty.
https://www.conservativereview.com/news/5-insane-provisions-amnesty-omnibus-bill/
So almost $5 billion to make things easier on the criminals invading our country and not one red fucking cent to build a wall? Fuck you, fuck all of you.
“…after funding for a wall was pulled to get Democratic approval.
The heckler’s veto in action. Why does a Republican run senate need Democrat approval?
Complete, total surrender by the GOPe.
Dirty stunts like this is why Republicans will lost the Senate next year.
Since this is nothing but a huge red carpet for the invaders. Perhaps DJT can put the screws on Mexico—for real, this time—to make them block the caravans. If the invaders don’t get to the border, they can’t play the “asylum” game, and all the baubles Congress dangles to attract more invaders won’t matter. The President can even dress it up as a “humanitarian” tactic—if invaders aren’t stacked up at the border, they won’t need that stupid supply of baby formula or any of those other Congressional freebies.
This is the opposite of helpful to Mexico. If we’re telling them to stop the flow, then we should at least do our part by not making it even more attractive to cross the finish line on the other end of Mexico.
This will increase violence in Mexico, as they try to comply with Trump’s orders. Damn it, the Senate is really bad here.
Very disappointed in Richard Shelby. Are people getting blackmailed?
Lemmie put the best face on this I can:
+Dems admit giant piles of illegal immigrants at border is a problem.
-No wall money (not much of a – because he’s getting it built in other way, but still…)
+More immigration judges
+More money to care for these people means fewer stories about the horrible concentration-camp like conditions with thousands… well, hundreds… Ok, maybe a dozen or two immigrants caught in terrible situations.
+Nothing I can see that stops INS from sending these people to Mexico to wait for their turn before an immigration judge (at which point if they wander off into the countryside, it would be the Mexican countryside)
A few pennies more for more immigration judges. That is the only good morsel in the whole toxic stew.
What good are more immigration judges to stop an invasion? We need to turn them all away.
Shut down the border immediately. Humanitarian crisis solves itself. No need for McTurtle and his ilk to get involved. This is not going to help anything. More illegals will come once we start making accommodations nicer. This is not what Americans voted for in Nov 2016.
Maybe we should just start billing the Country of Origin Embassies of the detained illegals & denied asylum seekers for the cost of their room, board, medical, etc. and the cost of transportation to deport them back home.
I fond it fascinating how the same pack of jackals could come up with 5 billon to stop this in the first place.
Hong Kong has a population of around 7.5M. Hong Kong is not being invaded. To protest a proposed law re:China extradition, around 2.0M residents [26% of population] recently held massive demonstrations.
Compare that with the US. We ARE being INVADED. We have a population around 330M … don’t ask how many are illegal. The libs say that figure is 11M and it’s been 11M for 30 years!
We can’t get ANYBODY to protest publicly about this. What is wrong with US citizens?
We aren’t being INVADED by doctors and engineers, but by TOILET SWISHERS and WEED PULLERS with 4th-grade educations at best!
How many TOILET SWISHERS and WEED PULLERS and WELFARE LEECHES do we need in the US? Go ahead … call me racist if you want. That won’t change the facts.
Hong Kong has a large population of essentially toilet swishers, and those were the ones out on the streets. (But they were supported behind the scenes by some money. Just like the Democrats here.)
The doctors and engineers, to 30% of the population, were given real British passports 40 years ago.
$4.2 billion of a $4.6 billion bill to make criminal illegals comfortable and no wall?
Rolling Mao Tse Mitch is exactly what Democrats say is a compromise/bipartisan bill!
The Republican party has been dead for thirty years.