Senate Rejects House’s Border Aid Bill And Passes Own $4.6B Version, Setting Up Stalemate As Crisis Continues To Worsen
Lawmakers from both chambers are now facing a ticking clock to make a deal before their scheduled recess, as gruesome reports and heartbreaking photos of conditions from the border continue to capture the nation's attention. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called President Donald Trump with an appeal to make changes. Trump seemed open, but it's unclear if the Senate will accept any amendments without assurances from the White House that Trump will sign the measure into law. Meanwhile, the new secretary of Homeland Security faces pressure to resign.
The Associated Press:
Border Aid Bill Faces Standoff In Congress Over Protections
Congress is at a standoff over a $4.6 billion aid package for the southern border as House Democrats say a Senate-passed measure doesn't go far enough to care for thousands of migrant families and children. Speaker Nancy Pelosi is considering a fresh vote Thursday. Democrats want to add more protections for the children — including medical and hygiene standards at facilities, and a requirement that any death of a minor be reported within 24 hours. Democratic leaders will convene early Thursday and Pelosi's spokesman says they plan to push the amended measure through the House quickly. (Taylor and Fram, 6/27)
CNN:
Border Funding: Senate, House Headed For Confrontation Over Legislation
The Senate vote was 84-8 and came after an emotional debate highlighted Wednesday morning by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer's display of a blown-up image on the Senate floor depicting a shocking photo of a Salvadoran father and his daughter who drowned trying to cross the Rio Grande. (Sullivan, Barrett and Fox, 6/26)
USA Today:
Border Crisis: Senate Passes A $4.6 Billion Border Funding Bill
Earlier in the day, the Senate voted 37-55 to reject the House's emergency border funding bill, which would have appropriated $4.5 billion for emergency funding, as well as stronger protections for migrants and children. The House had passed its version of the border funding bill on Tuesday evening. In a legislative quirk, Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Ala. introduced an amendment that struck out the text of the House bill and replaced it with the text of the Senate bill (S. 1900). The Senate bill is the version that ultimately passed. (Wu and Hayes, 6/26)
The New York Times:
Senate Approves $4.6 Billion For Border With Fewer Restrictions
The action set up a stalemate over the border spending, even as tragic images of the migrant crisis and reports of children and families in squalid and overcrowded detention centers fueled an urgent push to reach an agreement. Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California rejected the Senate’s bill even before the vote was taken, setting up a clash over immigration policy just days before Congress leaves Washington for a weeklong July 4 recess. Ms. Pelosi on Wednesday afternoon called Mr. Trump, who has threatened to veto the House bill, to discuss how to reconcile the dueling measures. “They pass their bill; we respect that,” she said. “We passed our bill; we hope they would respect that. And there are some improvements that we think can be reconciled.” (Cochrane and Hirschfeld Davis, 6/26)
The Washington Post:
Senate Approves $4.6 Billion Emergency Spending Bill For Southern Border Crisis
Trump himself sounded notes of optimism as he spoke about the legislation outside the White House prior to departing for Japan. “What they’re working on is aid, humanitarian aid for the children. It seems that the Senate is very close,” Trump said. “I think that Nancy wants to get something done, and the Senate and the House will get together. I think they’ll be able to do something very good.” (Werner and DeBonis, 6/26)
The Wall Street Journal:
Migrant Crisis At Border Intensifies As Senate Passes Aid Bill
Meanwhile, officials say cities on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border are overwhelmed by migrants. Politicians are arguing about responsibility for the death of a Salvadoran father and toddler daughter, captured in a photograph from Matamoros, Mexico, and U.S. immigration officials say they need new funds to process the large number of asylum seekers fleeing violence and poverty in Central America. (Duehren, Radnofsky and Montes, 6/26)
Politico:
Senate Passes Border Spending Package, Setting Up Fight With House
The House is expected to vote on the package Thursday, teeing up another potential showdown with the Senate if Republicans across the Capitol refuse to take up the amended bill. House Democrats already proposed some of those changes earlier in the day but Senate Republicans seemed unlikely to support them, according to Sen. John Thune of South Dakota, the GOP whip. "I don't think people want to go home not having solved this. Unless they have tweaks that are things that could pass here, I think it's going to be pretty much our bill or bust," Thune said. "The list [of changes] I've seen are the kind of things that people over here would have a pretty big problem with." (Everett and Caygle, 6/26)
Politico:
Trump Allies Pressuring DHS Chief To Resign
Hard-liners inside and outside the Trump administration are pressing for the removal of President Donald Trump’s acting Homeland Security secretary amid a rolling leadership purge that began in April and shows no signs of ending, according to five people in the Trump administration and four former Department of Homeland Security officials. Kevin McAleenan, who took over the post less than three months ago, is under heavy criticism from prominent Trump allies, including former Immigration and Customs Enforcement Director Thomas Homan, who may become the administration’s immigration czar. (Hesson and Cook, 6/26)
