Path forward on reconciliation 2.0 steep with challenges

The House took a major step in passing a Senate bipartisan bill to fund most of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on Thursday, but the tougher fight over funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol still lies ahead.

Republicans are aiming to fund ICE and Border Patrol for three years through a special process known as reconciliation, which would allow them to bypass a filibuster in the Senate. The plan comes after Democrats and Republicans failed to strike a deal over immigration enforcement reforms — a key demand from the minority party after the shooting of two U.S. citizens in Minnesota by federal agents. 

The House adopted a Senate-crafted budget blueprint Wednesday that details what would be included in the reconciliation bill, kickstarting the process. But there is still a long way to go before a bill ends up on President Trump’s desk.

Trump had imposed a deadline of June 1 to get the bill done, arguing that they can make it if Republicans “keep to the plan, FAST and FOCUSED.” Lawmakers are set to leave for recess next week, which means they have less than a month to craft the bill and muster up enough support in both chambers for it to pass. 

House Budget Committee Chair Jodey Arrington (R-Texas) told........

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