DHS FY 2015 Funding Remains in Doubt
Department of Homeland Security funding beyond Feb. 27 remains in question, as the House and Senate departed the Capitol in the past two days for more than a week of recess. Once both chambers reconvene Feb. 23, lawmakers will have…
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five days to act to avert a DHS shutdown. The House passed HR-240 to fund the department for the rest of FY 2015, but the legislation has measures to scale back President Barack Obama’s executive action on immigration. Democrats in the Senate have blocked attempts to move that bill through the chamber, and Obama has threatened to veto the bill. The Senate is scheduled to vote to open debate on the bill again Feb. 23. Congress left DHS out of an FY 2015 appropriations package that passed in December over Republican resistance to the immigration action. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., recently said DHS funding is now up to the House, although House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, said the onus remains on the Senate. Thursday, McConnell again pressed Senate Democrats to open debate on the House legislation. “I’ve already offered a fair and open debate to them several times now,” McConnell said on the Senate floor. “It’s a debate that would allow for amendments from both parties. That means amendments from Democrats, too.” President Barack Obama Friday sought DHs funding (see 1502130048).