House Republicans are embarking on a challenging two-week period to achieve significant legislative progress before taking a two-week recess. The aim is to demonstrate that their narrow and divided majority can still accomplish legislative objectives.
However, hard-liners are indicating that this task will be difficult. Key areas of contention over the next two weeks include:
— FISA Concerns: Republican leaders are aiming to pass a simple extension of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) next week, allowing the Senate sufficient time to reauthorize this crucial surveillance authority before the April 20 deadline. The White House backs this approach.
Nevertheless, conservatives are pushing for enhanced privacy protections within the current law, which permits the government to collect data on noncitizens without a warrant.
Speaker Mike Johnson faces a precarious situation, able to lose only one Republican in party-line procedural votes before legislative processes stall. At least two members, Reps. Anna Paulina Luna of Florida and Keith Self of Texas, have not dismissed the possibility of opposing a “clean” FISA bill.
“We’ve got several must-pass bills, all of which need amending,” Self told POLITICO. “And FISA is one of them.”
— Housing Obstacles: Hard-liners are also creating hurdles for the GOP’s efforts to address voter concerns about rising living costs as the midterms near. Many are withholding support for a Senate-approved affordable housing package because it lacks crucial policies they advocate for, such as a permanent ban on a central bank digital currency.
These dissenters are now demanding a bicameral conference to negotiate changes and remove “socialist” provisions championed by Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) — a demand that could effectively doom the entire initiative.
“I don’t have anything to add to what’s been discussed already,” House Financial Services Chair French Hill (R-Ark.) told POLITICO on Monday regarding the progress of discussions.
— The “SAVE” Revolt: Adding to these challenges are threats from some hard-line Republicans to oppose any Senate-passed bill, regardless of its content, until the Senate passes the SAVE America Act — a partisan elections proposal from the GOP that has slim chances of becoming law.
“I don’t care what the bill is,” Luna told POLITICO. “If they can’t do their job, they can’t pass bills.”
Luna plans to initiate her opposition Tuesday by voting against a Senate-endorsed measure on the House floor intended to extend the Small Business Innovation Research program.
Additional Developments:
— “SAVE” Debate Begins: The Senate is scheduled to commence a multi-day debate on Tuesday over the SAVE America Act, which President Donald Trump has declared his “No. 1 priority.” Despite some conservatives’ hopes for a “talking filibuster” to compel Democrats to agree to a simple majority passage, the Republicans will instead start with a vote to consider the House-passed bill that introduces new citizenship and photo ID requirements for voting.
— Friends of Ireland on the Hill: The speaker will host Trump and Taoiseach Micheál Martin for the annual Friends of Ireland luncheon at noon.
— AIPAC’s Influence Tested: Tuesday’s primary elections in Illinois will be a significant indicator of whether the historically influential American Israel Public Affairs Committee still holds sway.
Jordain Carney, Meredith Lee Hill, Elena Schneider, and Shia Kapos contributed to this report.
