House Republicans plan to introduce a bill on Friday to keep the Department of Homeland Security funded through the end of September with a number of provisions attached that would target President Obama's executive actions related to immigration. The plan was unveiled at a special closed-door meeting of the Republican conference this morning in the Capitol.
The move is likely to get the support of the vast majority of the Republican conference when they consider it next week, but will see almost unanimous Democratic opposition, and will see a veto threat once the legislation is released. The Senate will also likely not be able to get the 60 votes necessary to move the bill forward in that chamber of Congress.
The legislation would block the use of fees to carry out President Obama's executive actions, both from November of 2014 and the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) established in 2012. Republicans have also agreed to vote on three additional amendments related to immigration policy and the President's ability to use executive actions.
"The essential (provision) is the Mulvaney amendment in essence denying the use of any funds either through fees or appropriated monies to carry out the President's illegal unlawful amnesty program," House Appropriations Committee Chairman Hal Rogers (R-KY) told reporters after the meeting.
"Essentially what it says is the President cannot fund an activity that is unconstitutional and illegal," House Rules Committee Chairman Pete Sessions (R-TX) told reporters.
House and Senate Republicans plan to meet together in Hersey, Penn., for their annual retreat, and the path forward on this issue is expected to be a top priority. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) has said the Senate will consider legislation related to DHS in February, and House Republicans want to move next week in an effort to give the Senate time to work on the legislation.
"We want to get it over with, we want to send a bill to the Senate, let them work their will on it, and that may take some time," Rogers said.
