The agreement would fund other DHS components, such as the Transportation Security Administration and US Coast Guard, but the House will still need to act before funded agencies within the department can reopen.
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However, asked whether he believes the House will adopt the same measure to fund most of the department, Thune said, “I don’t know what the House will do.”
“It looks like everybody is going to stare at each other for a little while,” Senate Majority Leader John Thune said Wednesday, before nodding at lawmakers’ best hope for getting a deal — their overwhelming desire to leave town.
“You know how it is around here, it’s not Thursday yet,” he said.
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One GOP senator, granted anonymity to speak candidly, summed up their feelings: “I just want to go home.”
The strikes, which began early Saturday, were launched without congressional authorization. Article 1 of the Constitution gives Congress, not the president, the power to declare war. Top Congressional Democrats and Republicans that make up a group known as the Gang of Eight — party leaders from both chambers, as well as the Intelligence committees‘ leadership — were notified by the White House shortly before the attack.
A Senate-passed bill without changes would go to President Donald Trump’s desk for his approval.
If the Senate were to amend it, the bill would moves to Trump’s desk after the Senate version was again passed by the House.
Trump has said he will sign the bill into law. But he could also change his mind and choose to veto the bill, which would then require a two-thirds vote to override the president’s veto. He could also decide not to act on the bill, allowing it to become law without his signature.
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GOP senators argued earlier this year that Congress doesn’t have the authority to “dictate” how the Justice Department should handle the issue.
A source familiar with Republican discussions around the plan for this week said the GOP leadership is waiting to see how much support the bill gets in the House, which is expected to vote as soon as Tuesday.
“We’ll likely watch what the House does and make decisions after that,” the source said.
The Speaker also revealed he has spoken with Senate Majority Leader John Thune, saying the Senate is likely to slow things down and push amendments to ensure safeguards for victims before any release of the files.