What’s Happening Wednesday on Capitol Hill

April 19, 2023

WASHINGTON — The House Judiciary Committee is expected to mark up the sweeping immigration bill introduced by Reps. Tom McClintock, R-Calif., and Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., earlier this week despite reservations among moderates in their own party who believe the proposal makes it too difficult for migrants to be granted asylum.

Among other things, the bill, which is actually a cobbling together of eight separate earlier GOP bills — would authorize the secretary of Homeland Security to block migrants from entering the U.S. if the official decides it “is necessary in order to achieve operational control over such border.”

The bill also would restrict eligibility for migrants who have traveled through another country en route to the U.S., and have not first attempted to seek protection in another country.

In addition, it would require migrants to seek asylum at a designated port of entry, rather than after crossing the border at any point, and would impose a $50 asylum fee for adults. 

Another provision would allow migrant children to be detained with their parents for the duration of their immigration court proceedings. The current law states children cannot be detained for more than 20 days.

In addition, the bill would require employers to electronically verify that their workers have permission to work in the U.S.

Elsewhere on Capitol Hill, members of the Senate Intelligence Committee will receive a classified briefing on the leak of sensitive Pentagon documents by Massachusetts Air National Guardsman Jack Teixeira.

Teixeira was charged last Friday in federal court in Boston with unauthorized removal and retention of classified and national defense information. 

And negotiations are sure to resume today in the Senate over a Democratic proposal to temporarily replace Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., on the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Feinstein, who is 89, has been hospitalized with shingles since February. Her absence has left Democrats on the panel unable to advance President Joe Biden’s judicial nominees and there’s mounting concern it could start impacting their ability to address other issues as well.

On Tuesday night, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., requested the Democrats be allowed to temporarily replace Feinstein on the panel with Sen. Benjamin Cardin, of Maryland.

But Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., objected, explaining that while he considers Feinstein a “dear friend” he believes her temporary replacement on the panel is just a naked attempt to advance a handful of nominations the Democrats can’t get the votes for otherwise.

In other news on the Hill, Elton John will testify virtually before the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations on “PEPFAR at 20: Achieving and Sustaining Epidemic Control.” 

Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas will testify before the House Homeland Security Committee on the department’s proposed fiscal year 2024 budget.

And First Lady Dr. Jill Biden will attend the Congressional Families Cancer Prevention Program reception at the Library of Congress.

She’ll be attending this evening’s event as part of the administration’s Cancer Moonshot Prevent Cancer Foundation.

You can reach us at [email protected] and follow us on Facebook and Twitter