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

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