Senate Republicans to Craft $325 Billion Legislation on Military Funding and Border Security
The proposed legislation aims to allocate $150 billion for military enhancements and an additional $175 billion for fortified border security initiatives.
WASHINGTON—On February 11, the Senate Republican Conference declared its intent to draft a bill allocating $325 billion to bolster border security and military expansion efforts.
According to Senate Budget Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), his committee will commence work on a budget resolution that will authorize two separate bills.
“Our plan includes a $150 billion investment to strengthen and enhance the effectiveness of our military, alongside a $175 billion initiative to secure our borders,” Graham stated.
“The Budget Committee will instruct other committees to identify offsets within the budget,” he noted, indicating that cuts in other government spending areas might be necessary to accommodate the new expenditures. Details on specific funding were not provided, although he did reference a “border wall.”
The term “reconciliation” has prevailed in Congress discussions in recent weeks. It refers to the budget reconciliation process, allowing Congress to pass fiscal policy bills without the need for 60 votes to overcome a filibuster. The initiatives that Republicans are advocating for are largely partisan and are expected to lack Democratic support.
Policies included in a reconciliation bill can influence taxation, expenditure, and public borrowing for a maximum of 10 years. However, it does not allow for policy measures like immigration reforms. The process necessitates that both the Senate and House of Representatives first approve a “budget resolution” that activates reconciliation, paving the way for drafting a bill that must subsequently be passed by both chambers.
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Current disagreements between the Senate and House have stalled the legislative process. Senate Republicans aim to propose and pass two reconciliation bills for fiscal year 2025, which concludes on September 30. Conversely, House Republicans argue that they can realistically only pass one bill due to their slim majority and the expected absence of Democratic backing.
If Graham and Senate Republicans move forward with their strategy, it’s likely they will encounter a stalemate with the House. Addressing this divide, Graham indicated that the push for two bills stems from the necessity to fulfill President Donald Trump’s aggressive agenda for the removal of undocumented immigrants.
“There’s nothing I would prefer more than one comprehensive bill,” Graham remarked, echoing sentiments previously expressed by Trump. “Tom Homan has emphasized, ‘I am pleading for funds… the situation at the northern border is escalating rapidly.’”
Additionally, Graham mentioned that part of the funds would be allocated to locate 300,000 undocumented children whose locations are currently unknown to the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), which is part of the Department of Health and Human Services and is responsible for unaccompanied minors.
“We’re not constructing a wall, folks; we’re facing a wall. They urgently require the funding now,” Graham stated.
The House Budget Committee has yet to respond to inquiries regarding this matter.
The committee’s first meeting concerning the budget resolution is scheduled for February 12.
