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A $70 billion immigration enforcement bill cleared a key hurdle in the House Rules Committee Monday night, setting up floor votes on the measure as early as Tuesday.<\/p>\n
The panel voted 7-4 to advance the legislation after meeting for more than six hours.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe motion to report is agreed to,\u201d Committee Chairwoman Virginia Foxx said.<\/p>\n
During the hearing, Democrats forced votes on several failed amendments related to the \u201canti-weaponization fund\u201d \u2013 including one that would prohibit Jan. 6 rioters from receiving federal compensation. Other failed amendment votes were related to the Affordable Care Act tax credits and additional training requirements for immigration enforcement officers.<\/p>\n
This comes after Senate Republicans passed the package, known as the \u201cSecure America Act\u201d last Friday.<\/p>\n
If all House members are voting and present \u2013 which is unlikely \u2013 House Speaker Mike Johnson can afford three GOP defections.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ll pass it,\u201d Johnson told reporters Monday.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have a very small margin for error, as you know, so we’ll get it through, but we have to fund border enforcement and immigration enforcement, and everybody here knows that, so they’re going to have to put their personal preferences aside to get the job done,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
Johnson said \u201cyeah\u201d when asked if he had concerns about attendance for votes Tuesday due to primary races.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe primary season is a real challenge for having votes, but the Congress has to do its job. And I’ve told all of our members, you’ve got to do both. You’ve got to be present,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Asked if the reconciliation votes could get kicked to Wednesday, Johnson said, \u201cI don\u2019t think so.\u201d<\/p>\n
Congress has already funded the Department of Homeland Security, excluding Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CPBP). These agencies were excluded from budget negotiations to end the historic partial government shutdown earlier this year.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n