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In the midst of a chaotic day filled with political tensions, the U.S. House of Representatives approved two key measures this Wednesday: a three-year extension of the external surveillance program known as the Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) and a budget resolution that paves the way for funding the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Border Patrol.
Both decisions outline a potential path to end the record closure of the Department of Homeland Security.
It was one of the most chaotic legislative days in the recent history of Congress, according to U.S. media reports.
The session was marked by internal rebellions that paralyzed the chamber for hours, while the Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson, negotiated against the clock in plain view with a group of dissenting conservatives.
The vote on the Section 702 of FISA concluded with a result of 235-191, reflecting an unusual bipartisan coalition: 22 Republicans voted against and 42 Democrats voted in favor.
The program, which allows agencies like the National Security Agency (NSA) to collect communications from foreigners without an individual court order, was set to expire this Thursday.
However, the version approved by the House incorporates a controversial element: a permanent prohibition on the Federal Reserve from issuing a digital currency, a demand from the Freedom Caucus.
This addition complicates its future in the Senate. The majority leader, John Thune, has already warned that the bill is “dead on arrival” in that chamber and is working on an alternative 45-day extension to prevent the program from expiring while a broader solution is negotiated.
From the floor, Representative Jim Himes of Connecticut and the leading Democrat on the Intelligence Committee strongly defended the renewal.
If we saw the slightest indication that these powers were being abused, I would not be here today to support this project, he said.
Himes also flatly rejected the criticisms that label the program as unconstitutional: "Section 702 is not a dragnet. It is not a power that can be used to surveil Americans".
In parallel, the Chamber approved by 215-211, along strict party lines, the budget resolution that the Senate had endorsed on Tuesday with a vote of 50-48.
The measure authorizes approximately $70 billion to fund the ICE and the Border Patrol over the next three years through the budget reconciliation process, which allows Republicans to advance in the Senate with only 51 votes, without the need for Democratic support.
This legislative step is the first concrete progress in attempting to end the DHS shutdown, which has now lasted 74 days since February 14, the longest in the country's history.
More than 270,000 employees have been affected, of which 258,000 continue to work without pay for being considered essential.
The Democrats had conditioned their support on changes to the immigration policies of the Trump administration, including the use of body cameras and restrictions on operations in sensitive locations such as schools and hospitals.
However, through reconciliation, the Republicans manage to sidestep those demands.
Before reaching these votes, Johnson had to navigate a significant procedural rebellion.
A group of hardline conservatives - including Andy Biggs, Tim Burchett, and Harriet Hageman - blocked a key vote for over two hours.
After intense negotiations in the chamber itself, the rule was ultimately approved by 216-210.
These are some of the most complex public policy issues facing Congress, and all are pressed by the deadlines we are facing,” Johnson stated as he left the session.
The Democrat Jim McGovern from Massachusetts summed up the day's atmosphere with a blunt phrase before the press: “A damn disaster.”
Although no immediate solution is expected - the Chamber will take a break for a week - Johnson could still bring a separate bill to a vote before departing, one that has already been approved by the Senate to fund ICE and the Border Patrol.
That plan would also cover agencies such as FEMA, the Coast Guard, and the TSA.
The Secretary of Homeland Security, Markwayne Mullin, had already warned that the department's emergency funds could be depleted in the first week of May, while Trump set June 1 as the deadline for Republicans to send him the complete reconciliation bill.
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