Funviralpark Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer, DN.Y., announced Thursday morning that he had reached agreement with his colleagues on amending the 4,155-page omnibus.
And it looks like his savior might be independent Senator Kirsten Cinema of Arizona. Senator Cinema on Thursday introduced an amendment to extend the Title 42 health policy that would increase border regions’ funding and resources and facilitate the deportation of immigrants seeking asylum in the United States. America.
Cinema’s amendment is a proposal to cut funding for the office of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorcas, sponsored by Senator Mike Lee (Utah Republican), unless the Biden administration reinstates Trump-era Title 42 policies. could give centrist Democrats political cover to vote against.
Democrats say Lee’s amendment will sink the House omnibus if it passes the Senate.
Mr. Schumer said on the floor that senators and staff had been working until 2 a.m. to come up with an amendment, but no agreement had been reached.
Then, just before 10:00 a.m., Schumer announced he would be voting for the Republican Party and a bloc of 15 amendments, giving the Senate a chance to pass a $1.7 trillion omnibus later in the day.
That gives the House a chance to vote on Friday to send the bill to President Biden’s desk.
“We are now in agreement. We will vote on all amendments in turn and vote on final passage. It will take time but it will be worth it and everyone here will help Thank you,” Schumer announced on the floor.
The series of amendments he released included Lee’s proposal and a parallel amendment for Cinema co-hosted by Senator Jon Tester (D-Mont.).
The massive appropriation bill stalled Wednesday night as Mr. Lee insisted on a vote on an amendment. Republicans argue that Title 42 has stopped mass immigration from Venezuela and other countries on the U.S.-Mexico border.
The Supreme Court has temporarily blocked the Biden administration’s attempt to end Title 42.
Democrats suffered a setback when lawmakers ruled that Lee’s amendment was closely tied to the year-end appropriations bill.
Republicans believe that cinema and centrist Democrats such as Tester and Joe Manchin (DW.Va.) are running for re-election.
But Cinema’s juxtaposed amendment caused her, Tester, Manchin, and other centrist Democrats, such as Sen. attacks can be dodged. Please don’t take the border situation seriously.
Cinema’s intervention to break the Title 42 stalemate that threatens to derail the entire omnibus shows she can continue to play the Senate dealmaker role after leaving the Democratic Party earlier this month. .
Congress needs to pass legislation to fund the federal government before it runs out of money at the end of Friday.
A group of conservative Republicans, led by Senators Lee and Rick Scott (Republican-Florida), have launched a 2023 campaign to allow the incoming House Republican majority to renegotiate a crammed spending package with Democrats. He called for temporary spending measures that would last until the beginning of the year. Not just a priority, but a massive increase in defense spending — a top Republican priority.
A simple majority vote standard must be allowed for the Cinema Amendment to pass. If lawmakers ruled that 60 votes were needed to be added to the omnibus, it would likely collapse.
Cinema’s proposal would increase border security funding, increase resources for border communities, and extend Title 42 until “proper plans” are in place to deal with the flood of migrants.
“Historic levels of border crossings at the southern border this year make clear that the status quo is not working. and extend Title 42 until adequate plans are in place to manage the crisis at the border.
Cinema’s proposal is $85 million for immigration officers to expedite asylum applications, $80 million for U.S. attorneys to prosecute border crimes, and detention capacity to hold smugglers and other criminals. provide $140 million to boost
Other priorities include providing $100 million to strengthen border drug enforcement, $200 million to close gaps in the border wall, and $1 billion to increase the detention capacity of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. there is.
—10:50 am update
