WASHINGTON — US Senate Majority Leader Sen. Mitch McConnell announced Tuesday the chamber will move to a Homeland Security bill with billions for defense firms after finishing the Keystone XL measure.
The Kentucky Republican signaled a dispute with Democrats soon could be resolved, allowing the chamber to move to a final vote on the controversial oil pipeline legislation.
"We're hoping to be able to finish that bill by the end of the week," McConnell told reporters. "And then, once Keystone is complete, we'll go to DHS."
But just what the upper chamber will take up as soon as next week remains foggy.
House members earlier this month approved a $39.7 billion DHS appropriations bill that would span the remainder of the fiscal year.
The lower chamber's DHS-funding measure contains billions for defense sector-supplied Coast Guard hardware, like National Security Cutter ships, HC-130J aircraft acquisitions and maintenance, H-60 helicopter remanufacturing, and other programs. Current DHS funding expires Feb. 27, and Congress plans a weeklong recess in the middle of an already short month.
But the House GOP also included amendments targeting President Obama's recent immigration action. The move immediately drew the ire of Senate Democrats, including the handful of moderates needed to reach the necessary 60-vote threshold. Even Republican members who say they could vote for the bill say it would not get the necessary 60 votes to shut off debate.
The House GOP-crafted bill also has received a veto threat from the White House.
On Tuesday, Senate Democrats said if McConnell brings up the House-passed version, that would mean "the Republican Senate will move from one bill certain to be vetoed to another bill certain to be vetoed."
That came from Adam Jentleson, Minority Leader Sen. Harry Reid's spokesman, on Twitter.
"Moving to the House-passed DHS bill next ensures the Republican Senate will spend 100% oif its first month on bills certain to be vetoed," Jentleson added in another tweet, referring to President Barack Obama's veto threat of the Keystone XL legislation.
McConnell did not describe the DHS-funding measure he intends to put on the floor, nor whether it would contain immigration policy provisions.
Also Tuesday, over 45 Senate Democrats sent a letter to McConnell echoing a call made late last week by Reid: Pass a "clean" DHS bill quickly.
"In light of recent events in Paris, Ottawa and Australia, the threat of [Islamic State] and the proliferation of foreign fighters that return home radicalized, DHS funding should not be tied to divisive political issues that could jeopardize this critical funding," the Democrats wrote.
"Every day, new threats emerge that endanger our citizens at home and our allies abroad," they wrote McConnell. "We should not cast doubt on future funding for the Department of Homeland Security at a time when the entire nation should be marshaling collective resources to defend against terrorism."
Email: jbennett@defensenews.com.
Twitter: BennettJohnT
