WASHINGTON — Congress ended its seven-week impasse on funding the Department of Homeland Security as the House voted Tuesday to pass a $40 billion spending bill that does not derail President Obama's immigration programs.
The 257-167 vote prevents a partial shutdown of the agency, which was set to run out of money at midnight Friday. The bill funds the department through Sept. 30. The Senate approved the bill last week, and Obama is poised to sign it into law.
Immigration hard-liners were angry that the bill did not contain provisions to bar funding to carry out Obama's executive orders to shield about 4 million undocumented immigrants from deportation. The House passed a bill in mid-January that would have defunded those orders, which also allow some undocumented immigrants to apply for work permits.
"I believe this is a sad day for America," said Rep. Matt Salmon, R-Ariz., who called Obama's actions unconstitutional. "If we're not going to fight now, when are we going to fight?"
But House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, told his GOP caucus Tuesday morning that it was clear that Senate Democrats would continue to block the House bill and he did not want to let the Department of Homeland Security shut down.
Republican leaders said during debate on the House floor Tuesday that there was little choice left but to pass the Senate bill.
"It is clear that the bill before us ... is the only way forward to prevent a potentially devastating shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security," said Rep. Mike Simpson, R-Idaho, who serves on the House Appropriations Committee.
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http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2015/03/03/house-homeland-security-funding-vote/24308531/
