The Senate and House are poised to act on separate emergency border security plans, likely setting up a protracted debate in Washington as the Obama administration warns that it is running out of money to address the child-migrant crisis at the southern border, the Washington Post reports. “Unfortunately, it looks like we're on track to do absolutely nothing,” said Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX), sounding pessimistic about whether the differences in the plans can be bridged.
Senate Democrats plan to move forward next week on a spending bill to provide $2.7 billion in emergency funds to deal with the influx of minors from Central America flooding into the country illegally, about $1 billion less than President Obama has requested. House GOP leaders are working on a proposal to set the funding at less than $2 billion. They are set to unveil a set of policy principles today that would also mandate that the administration send National Guard troops to the border, a move the White House has called unnecessary. The competing border plans are expected to ignite a fierce fight on Capitol Hill that is unlikely to be resolved before Congress adjourns for a five-week summer break at the end of next week.