House and Senate Dems plan to force votes on Iran war powers resolutions.
Congress returns from its two-week recess early this week -- thrusting lawmakers back into the debate surrounding the Iran war as the President Donald Trump's strategy faces continued scrutiny. House and Senate Democrats plan to force separate votes in both chambers on Iran war powers resolutions this week. These resolutions would call on the president to terminate the use of U.S. armed forces in hostilities against Iran or any part of the Iranian government or military unless a declaration of war or authorization to use military force is enacted. Previously these efforts have narrowly failed, but as the conflict drags on and lawmakers continue to face questions about the president's actions, additional Republicans could decide to support the efforts.
The House could move as early as this week to expel several members of Congress. Republican Rep. Anna Paulina Luna of Florida said she will force a vote to expel Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., next week amid allegations of sexual assault. Texas GOP Rep. Tony Gonzales could also face a similar vote after he admitted to having an affair with a former staffer. And Florida Democrat Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick is expected to face an expulsion vote, likely following a House Ethics Committee sanction hearing on April 21. The congresswoman was indicted on charges of stealing $5 million in Federal Emergency Management Agency funds, which she is accused of laundering to support her 2021 congressional campaign. Expelling a member of Congress -- which is a rare occurrence -- requires a two-thirds majority vote, a higher threshold than the simple majority needed to pass most legislation. Only six lawmakers in U.S. history have been expelled, including George Santos in 2023. As the expulsion resolutions stack up, Democrats are also clamoring for the expulsion of Florida Republican Rep. Cory Mills, who has faced his own allegations of misconduct. Speaker Mike Johnson has previously been opposed to expulsion efforts and has argued that lawmakers deserve due process.
Lawmakers return as the Department of Homeland Security's partial shutdown drags on -- hitting Day 66 on Monday when the Senate returns to session.It's not clear what Johnson's next move will be to attempt to reopen the agency, as he balances threats to the gavel against an arduous path to fully fund DHS' breadth of agencies via reconciliation. The Senate plans to move forward with a narrow budget reconciliation bill to fund ICE and CPB for the next three years with Senate Budget Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham leading the charge, Senate Majority Leader John Thune said.'Reconciliation is ON TRACK, and we are moving FAST and FOCUSED in keeping our Border SECURE, and getting funding to the Department of Homeland Security and the Justice Department to continue our incredible SUCCESS at MAKING AMERICA SAFE AGAIN!' Trump wrote on his social media platform on Friday. While reconciliation is a lengthy process that sidesteps the filibuster, Trump has demanded that the bill land on his desk by June 1 -- an enormous challenge for Republicans navigating small margins in both chambers.
As the next legislative blitz approaches, House Republicans get a smidgeon of relief with the arrival of Rep.-elect Clay Fuller, whoto fill the seat once occupied by Marjorie Taylor Greene. Fuller is expected to take the oath of office during the House's first vote series on Tuesday, April 14.also take center stage as several Cabinet secretaries and administration officials are slated to testify before lawmakers including Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, Energy Secretary Chris Wright, Director of the United States Office of Management and Budge Russ Vought, United States Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, Secret Service Director Sean Curran and more., the GOP-led House Oversight Committee is not slated to hold any depositions this week as part of their ongoing investigation into Epstein. The Department of Justice said former Attorney General Pam Bondiwith the committee on Tuesday, April 14 -- which has prompted bipartisan backlash from lawmakers on the committee. The next scheduled deposition is expected April 30.
, known as the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, on the floor for a vote sometime this week. The federal law sets out rules and procedures for gathering foreign intelligence through electronic surveillance, physical searches, pen registers and more. Johnson and Trump have publicly backed a clean extension through October 2027. However, several House conservatives do not support a clean extension -- presenting Johnson a challenge to pass the bill relying on help from Democrats, who are mostly reluctant to help Republicans and Trump accomplish anything legislatively. Once the House passes FISA legislation, the Senate will need to take up the measure by April 20 -- when the law is set to expire.
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