This week on The Hill: Senate takes first steps on reconciliation 2.0

The Senate is expected to vote as early as this week on a budget blueprint for a second reconciliation bill that includes funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol. 

But Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) will likely have to appease hardline conservatives in his caucus, who have demanded that the bill be broader than the “skinny” package he is pushing for.

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and others are hoping to tack on defense funding, a proposal to modify capital gains taxes to reflect inflation and funding to cover ICE and Border Patrol for the next decade in the bill, warning that it could be their last chance to enact President Trump’s agenda before Democrats possibly seize control of one or both branches of Congress in the midterms.

But Thune has opted to keep the reconciliation package small to get it through the House and Senate as quickly as possible.

The reconciliation bill is part of a two-step process aimed at ending the record-breaking Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shutdown, which has stretched for over two months. The Senate already passed a bipartisan bill to fund the rest of DHS over recess, which the House has yet to take up.

Another challenge for Thune will be getting a clean reauthorization of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) across the finish line in the Senate ahead of the April 20 expiration deadline – a controversial measure that will likely face pushback from privacy-minded lawmakers in the upper chamber.

What you can expect this week:

Reconciliation 2.0 underway: Senators are aiming to vote on a budget blueprint for a second reconciliation bill as part of a deal to end the partial government shutdown.

Johnson works to clinch FISA deal: Both the House and Senate passed a ten-day extension of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), which was set to expire April 20. But Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) must come up with a deal with hardliners before the new deadline expires on April 30. 

Cherfilus-McCormick faces expulsion vote: The House Ethics Committee is holding a hearing on Tuesday to determine what sanctions to take againstRep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick(D-Fla.), accused of campaign finance violation. House Republicans are preparing to call up an expulsion resolution against her.

Kevin Warsh hearing scheduled for Tuesday: The Senate Banking Committee is holding a nomination hearing for Kevin Warsh, Trump’s pick to be the next chair of the Federal Reserve, on Tuesday.

Senate aims to hold vote on budget blueprint for reconciliation bill

Thune is aiming to keep the reconciliation........

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