In several efforts, Democrats were able to win over several key Republicans, including Sen. Susan Collins of Maine and Sen. Dan Sullivan of Alaska, who are up for re-election.
Senate rejects war powers resolution again along party lines
The Senate has rejected a resolution to end American hostilities in Iran. Once again, the vote was largely partisan.
WASHINGTON – In rapid-fire votes, most Senate Republicans opposed a package of policies that Democrats said would cut Americans’ daily living costs, but also moved to approve billions of dollars for immigration enforcement.
In the early morning hours of Thursday, April 23, Democrats unsuccessfully tried to attach a series of amendments to the federal budget blueprint. They said their bill would ultimately lower prices for gas, groceries, health care and school lunches by creating a reserve fund, blocking future price hike bills and reversing food stamp cuts.
Republican lawmakers have accused Republicans of orchestrating a political stunt to extend the Department of Homeland Security’s record-long shutdown.
The so-called “Vote-a-Rama” was one of the most important but futile political leverage Democrats have at their disposal in the months-long bitter battle over immigration enforcement since the killing of two Minnesotans by federal agents in January. The measure never moved forward, but it was a politically tough vote for opposition lawmakers, especially in a critical midterm election year that could shift control of Congress to Democrats in November.
Notably, two Republicans seeking re-election in purple states, Sen. Susan Collins (Maine) and Sen. Dan Sullivan (Alaska), supported efforts to curb out-of-pocket health care costs and food prices.
“Democrats are standing up for the American people,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said on the Senate floor.
At the same time, Republicans successfully cleared the key hurdle of fully funding DHS again, while also directing more funding to Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Security, a top Republican priority.
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), chairman of the Appropriations Committee, said, “Why are we here? Our Democratic colleagues have denied funding to Border Patrol and ICE at a time of great threat to our country.” “We tried to make some reforms, but you refused.”
It remains unclear exactly when Congress will move toward a complete end to the DHS shutdown, which has lasted more than two months. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin told “Fox & Friends” this week that President Donald Trump’s directive to redirect funds to pay Department of Homeland Security employees, including airport security personnel, will deplete funding by early May.
“There’s one more paycheck left, but the emergency fund is gone. The president can’t issue executive orders anymore because there’s no more money,” he said.
Zachary Schermele is a Congressional reporter for USA TODAY. You can email us at zschermele@usatoday.com. Follow him on X at @ZachSchermele and on Bluesky at @zachschermele.bsky.social.
