The Senate on Thursday unanimously accepted a bill to partially reopen the Department of Homeland Security, a step towards ending the longest-ever partial authorities shutdown.
The measure now goes again to the House, which final week declined to take it up in favor of a special funding bill.
House Republican leaders are anticipated to contemplate the measure this time, after reaching an agreement with Senate Majority Leader John Thune to pursue a bigger bill this spring that can embrace spending for the president’s immigration and border agenda.
It’s not clear when the House will vote. Both chambers are out on a two-week recess however have been convening transient “pro forma” periods.
The newest transfer comes after Thune issued an announcement with House Speaker Mike Johnson on Wednesday asserting a plan to finish the partial shutdown following a dispute between Senate and House Republicans that noticed Johnson snub a bipartisan deal that handed within the Senate.
That deal would have partially reopened the division however with out funding Immigration and Customs Enforcement and border patrol.
Thune and Johnson revealed a two-track plan of their assertion on Wednesday to finish the shutdown with a partial reopening of DHS and to pursue a second megabill to safe that additional immigration funding.
One main remaining hurdle is when precisely the House will likely be prepared to go the Senate plan that they rejected simply final week.
Lawmakers have, in the meantime, been underneath intense pressure to return from recess, with TMZ publishing photos of members leaving Washington, on trip, at household occasions, again of their residence states and on official congressional journeys overseas.
This is a creating story and will likely be up to date.