Senate Poised to Begin Debate on DACA Relief as Congress Staggers Toward a
Week-Long Recess
Week-Long Recess
Monday, February 12, 2018
 | Both the House and Senate are scheduled to leave Washington at week's end for their brief week-long President's Day recess. However, before it begins its recess, the Senate is likely to be consumed by an open-ended and yet-to-be-structured week-long debate on legislation to provide relief to beneficiaries of the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. which President Trump has pledged he will terminate effective March 5, 2018. |
It was unclear at the time of this writing whether the Senate will be able to muster the 60 votes necessary to pass anything relating to DACA this week, especially given the demands from President Trump and his allies in Congress that any such legislation must be accompanied by provisions that would eliminate a number of avenues by which families are reunited within the nation's legal immigration system, as well as by provisions that would eliminate the Diversity Visa program, dramatically increase border security spending, and reduce the due process rights for persons in removal proceedings.
The picture on DACA relief legislation may be a bit more clear by week's end. Then again, maybe not.
In addition to the Senate debate on DACA legislation, the highlight of the coming week's immigration-related activity in Washington includes President Trump's scheduled release of his budget submission for fiscal year 2019 and a House panel hearing on the nexus (if any) between sanctuary cities and opiate trafficking.
In all, from the perspective of those interested in immigration, refugee, homeland security, or human trafficking policy, the week's schedule includes five hearings and one business meeting at which matters on those subjects could be examined, and possible floor action on one matter of consequence to immigration.
The picture on DACA relief legislation may be a bit more clear by week's end. Then again, maybe not.
In addition to the Senate debate on DACA legislation, the highlight of the coming week's immigration-related activity in Washington includes President Trump's scheduled release of his budget submission for fiscal year 2019 and a House panel hearing on the nexus (if any) between sanctuary cities and opiate trafficking.
In all, from the perspective of those interested in immigration, refugee, homeland security, or human trafficking policy, the week's schedule includes five hearings and one business meeting at which matters on those subjects could be examined, and possible floor action on one matter of consequence to immigration.
The Week's Executive Branch Actions
The following executive branch actions that could either reference immigration, refugee, or human trafficking policy or that could significantly impact policy in those areas are scheduled, likely, or possible this week:
- Submission of President Trump's FY '19 Budget Proposal: The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is scheduled to release President Trump's FY '19 Budget Submission om Monday, February 12. Included in the submission will be the President's proposals for funding the federal government's border security, interior immigration enforcement, immigration services, overseas refugee assistance, refugee admissions, and refugee resettlement activities for the coming fiscal year.
The Week's House and Senate Floor Actions
The following House or Senate floor actions that could either reference immigration, refugee, or human trafficking policy or that could significantly impact policy in those areas are scheduled, likely, or possible this week:
- Senate Floor Debate on DACA Relief: The full Senate on Monday is scheduled to begin what could be a week-long debate on legislative proposals to provide relief for DACA beneficiaries. The Senate will likely continue considering the legislation, H.R. 2579, throughout the remainder of the week.
The Week's House and Senate Markups
The following business meetings are scheduled for the week, during which measures that either contain significant immigration- or refugee-related provisions or that could be targets for amendments on those subjects could be marked up:
- Markup of Homeland Security Authorization Act: The Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs has scheduled a business meeting for this week during which it will mark up a number of measures. Among the measures scheduled to be marked up is H.R. 2825 the "Department of Homeland Security Authorization Act of 2017", which the U.S. House of Representatives passed on July 20, 2017.
The Week's House and Senate Hearings
The following hearings featuring immigration- or refugee-related themes or subjects are scheduled in the House or Senate this week:
- House Hearing on Sanctuary Cities and the Opioid Epidemic: The House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security has scheduled a hearing for this week titled, "The Effect of Sanctuary City Policies on the Ability to Combat the Opioid Epidemic."
- House Hearing on Border Patrol Access: The House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations has scheduled a hearing for this week titled,, "The Costs of Denying Border Patrol Access: Our Environment and Security."
- Senate Hearing on FY '19 Budget: The Senate Committee on the Budget has scheduled a hearing for this week to examine the Administration's FY '19 Budget submission, titled, "Review of the FY2019 State Department Budget Request and Redesign Plans,"
- House Hearing on FY '19 Budget: The House Committee on the Budget has scheduled a hearing for this week to examine the Administration's FY '19 Budget submission.
- Hearing on FY '19 Budget for Department of Health and Human Services: The House Committee on Ways and Means has scheduled a hearing for this week to examine the Administration's FY '19 Budget submission for the Department of Health and Human Services.