The Senate will vote at 2 P.M. on a war powers resolution related to the Iran war. The resolution is aimed at blocking U.S. military operations in Iran until Congress explicitly approves it. The vote is expected to fail like previous attempts by Democrats, but it’s the first time the Senate will vote on the Iran war since they returned from a two-week recess where President Donald Trump threatened to eliminate the entire civilization of Iran if it refused to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The resolution will be subject to a simple majority, but in similar previous votes only Senator Rand Paul, (R-Kentucky) joined Democrats in supporting it with Senator John Fetterman, (D-Pennsylvania) being the only Democrat to oppose similar resolutions. The resolution “directs the President to remove the United States Armed Forces from hostilities within or against Iran, unless explicitly authorized by a declaration of war or a specific authorization for use of military force.”
Across the Capitol, the House has postponed a vote that was expected today on extending Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, or FISA. The chamber was planning to vote around 12:30 P.M. on a procedural rule for the FISA extension, but a whip notice sent to members late this morning said that debate and a vote on that rule has been postponed and that action on FISA “is still possible on the floor today.” FISA’s 702, which allows the U.S. government to collect and view electronic communications of foreign nationals outside of the U.S. without a warrant, is set to expire April 20th without action by Congress.
Also for today, the House is also considering a Discharge Petition H. Res. 965 – Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 1689) to require the Secretary of Homeland Security to designate Haiti for temporary protected status as well as H.R. 6409 – FENCES Act, H. Res. 1156 – Expressing support for tax policies that support working families and H.R. 6398 – RED Tape Act.
