Congress Faces Multiple Deadlines Amid Republican Divisions

<p>Congress has returned to face several deadlines and internal divisions within the Republican Party as the midterm elections approach. Lawmakers left Washington before Memorial Day close to passing a significant immigration enforcement funding package, which would have allowed Republicans to address other priorities.</p><p>However, the budget reconciliation process, intended to allocate approximately $72 billion to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol, has stalled due to a recent move by the Trump administration that highlighted divisions within the GOP.</p><p>The Senate is currently at an impasse regarding the reconciliation package following the Department of Justice's announcement of a nearly $2 billion "anti-weaponization" fund aimed at compensating individuals who claim to have been wronged by the government. Senate Republicans expressed concerns during a closed-door meeting with acting Attorney General Todd Blanche about whether individuals convicted of assaulting police officers during the January 6, 2021, riots would be eligible for this fund.</p><p>Despite ongoing discussions, little progress has been made between Senate Republicans and the administration, with Republicans deferring responsibility to the White House. A White House official stated, "The administration appreciated last week’s conversation and feedback. We look forward to additional conversations as needed."</p><p>The House is anticipated to consider the budget reconciliation bill once it passes in the Senate, but other urgent matters are beginning to fill the congressional agenda.</p><p>Congress must soon address the June 12 deadline to reauthorize Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), a contentious issue that has seen bipartisan calls for reforms. While Section 702 permits the government to surveil foreign nationals, it does not prevent the collection of data on Americans caught in those communications.</p><p>House conservatives are advocating for reforms that would require warrants for surveillance of American communications, close loopholes allowing the government to purchase sensitive data from brokers without a warrant, and limit broad authorities that permit incidental collection of information.</p><p>In the Senate, GOP privacy advocates, including Senators Mike Lee and Rick Scott, are expected to support similar reforms. Meanwhile, House Democrats are likely to push for a vote to limit the president's war powers regarding Iran, which may receive some GOP support. Additionally, Democrats are expected to propose legislation for $1.3 billion in military aid to Ukraine and new sanctions against Russia, although this measure may face significant opposition.</p><p>House Speaker Mike Johnson is under pressure from some House Republicans to initiate a third budget reconciliation package before the midterm elections. Representative August Pfluger expressed optimism about the GOP's discussions, anticipating that the conference will pass another budget reconciliation package by the end of July.</p><p>Congress is also progressing on the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which allocates $1.15 trillion for the Pentagon. This essential legislation may be delayed due to other pressing issues. As the midterm elections approach, Congress is facing time constraints to complete its work, with lawmakers scheduled for their typical August recess and a significant portion of October off for campaigning.</p>