Senate Appropriations Panel Approves Border Spending Bill, House Could Pass Its Version First

June 20, 2019

The GOP-led Senate Appropriation Committee passed a $4.59 billion in emergency funding bill Wednesday to address the surge of Central American migrants arriving at the southern border, Roll Call reported.

The supplemental legislation would provide emergency funding for border activities to DOD, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, and the Justice Department, according to the report.

The measure would provide border emergency funding below President Donald Trump’s request, but leaders of both parties said it also does not include contentious provisions that could derail passage.

The bill includes additional humanitarian aid Democrats sought, but also would continue to provide funding for border detention activities and a continued military presence.

It includes $145 million for the DOD to perform medical, surveillance and maintenance activities at the border.

“This package does not include everything I wanted; it does not include everything Vice Chairman Leahy wanted,” said Appropriations Committee Chairman Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.). “But most importantly, it does not include poison pills from either party.”

The bill does not provide funding for a border wall or additional detention beds, according to Politico. The Democrat-led House is moving its own bill for a vote as soon as Tuesday, but differences between the Capitol Hill versions make final passage uncertain, according to the report.

Both chambers hope to get an emergency aid package to the president before July 4 recess.

U.S Customs and Border Protection photo by Mani Albrecht

June 20, 2019

Recent News

Snap of the Week

Snap of the Week

Naval Academy plebes climb the Herndon Monument, a tradition symbolizing the successful completion of the midshipmen’s freshman year. The class of 2027 completed the climb in 2 hours, 19 minutes and 11 seconds. Navy photo by Stacy Godfrey

In Our Communities

In Our Communities

More than 74,000 residents of Whidbey Island, Washington could suffer long-term health impacts from the noise of jets stationed at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, according to a University of Washington study, The Seattle Times reported. Researchers said the impact...

$2 Billion Aid Package Will Help Ukraine Build Its Own Weapons

$2 Billion Aid Package Will Help Ukraine Build Its Own Weapons

A new $2 billion aid package the State Department announced Thursday will help build a Ukraine Defense Enterprise Program, according to Defense News. The fund will help Ukraine buy weapons from other countries while “investing in Ukraine’s defense industrial base,...

NDAA Draft Asks for DOD Study on Privatizing Barracks

NDAA Draft Asks for DOD Study on Privatizing Barracks

The House Armed Services Committee’s draft National Defense Authorization Act indicates lawmakers may not be ready to privatize more barracks, as Military.com reported. “Members aren’t completely bought into privatizing all housing,” a senior Republican committee aide...

PAST STORIES