Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-New York) says Senate Democrats will block another short-term funding resolution to keep the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) operating past Friday because Republicans haven’t done enough to meet their demands to overhaul Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). With only three days from a DHS shutdown left, Democrats will not support a CR to extend the status quo Leader Schumer said, referring to the continuing resolution Congress needs to pass by February 13th to avoid a DHS shutdown. Leader Schumer said Tuesday that Democrats need to see more from Republicans during negotiations over how ICE conducts President Donald Trump’s harsh immigration crackdown. Leader Schumer and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-New York) released a 10-point plan last week demanding significant changes to federal immigration enforcement which Republicans quickly dismissed but Democrats and the White House have traded proposals since then.
Congress may now leave town at the end of this week with DHS shut down and no clear plan to reopen the massive department. While negotiations between Democrats and the White House are ongoing, right now, a deal on a stopgap funding measure seems unlikely. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-South Dakota) took the first procedural step on Tuesday evening to tee up a vote on a bill Republicans would use as a shell for either a continuing resolution or a DHS funding deal. At this point, Leader Thune would almost certainly need a CR to buy more time. Either way, Senate GOP leaders will need unanimous consent to speed up votes if they’re going to pass something before the Friday deadline.
The House is scheduled to vote Wednesday on a resolution disapproving President Trump’s tariffs against Canada, in what could amount to yet another blow to Speaker Mike Johnson, (R-Louisiana), and a rebuke of the president’s signature economic policy. The tariff resolution, introduced by Representative Gregory Meeks, (D-New York), will be considered a day after a procedural vote on a rule that would have barred House challenges to President Trump’s tariffs failed with the support of three Republican members. Because of the razor-thin GOP majority in the House, Speaker Johnson can afford to lose only one Republican vote if all Democrats are present and vote in favor of the resolution to end Trump’s Canada tariff.
For today, the Senate will convene at 2:00 P.M. and following Leader remarks, the Senate will resume consideration of the motion to proceed to Calendar #311, H.R.7147, DHS Appropriations. The Senate is expected to consider Cal. #315, H.J.Res.142, disapproving the action of the District of Columbia Council in approving the D.C. Income and Franchise Tax Conformity and Revision Temporary Amendment Act of 2025.
The House plans to consider the Democratic Resolution H.J. Res. 72 – Relating to a national emergency by the President on February 1, 2025 as well as the following Legislation Considered Pursuant to a Rule: S. 1383 – SAVE America Act, as amended, H.R. 3617 – Securing America’s Critical Minerals Supply Act and H.R. 261 – Undersea Cable Protection Act.
