Defense

The House on Thursday afternoon narrowly rejected an amendment to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) appropriations bill that would have prevented DHS from using funds in any way that violates the War Powers Act. The language was turned away in a 208-213 vote.

The amendment was supported by 112 Republicans and 96 Democrats, but opposed by 125 Republicans and 88 Democrats.

The House began Wednesday debate on a rule for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) with an immediate objection from Democrats, who raised a point of order against the rule because it deems the House GOP FY 2012 budget as approved by Congress.

Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.) raised the point of order against the rule, but acknowledged the point of order was essentially a chance to debate the inclusion of language on the FY 2012. Ellison and several other Democrats reiterated their argument that the GOP budget would "end Medicare as we know it."

A resolution calling for the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Libya was withdrawn from the House schedule this week, prompting sponsor Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) to charge that House leaders were afraid it might have passed.

"The House Leadership has communicated to me via email that the vote on Libya will be postponed 'in an effort to compel more information and consultation' from the administration," Kucinich said Wednesday. "I have been asked to provide input for the information which the House will seek from the administration."

House Democrats on Wednesday morning called on members to reject a House Republican rule for an appropriations bill that would deem the GOP's FY 2012 budget as passed for the purpose of considering appropriations bills this year.

The House Rules Committee approved the rule for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) appropriations bill on Tuesday, and Republicans argue the rule must deem the FY 2012 budget resolution as approved in order to start the appropriations process this year. But House Democrats on Wednesday recoiled at that decision, in large part because of their opposition to the GOP's plan to radically change the Medicare program.

House Republicans this week will take up a bill that will increase federal spending in the next fiscal year for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), military construction and related agencies, which will likely draw more complaints from Democrats that the GOP is willing to cut anything but military-related items.

The House plans to take up H.R. 2055 later in the week, a text of which was released on Tuesday.

The House next week will look to pass a bill that cuts more than $1 billion in funding for the Department of Homeland Security for FY 2012 and funds DHS at a level nearly $3 billion below the Obama administration's request.

The bill, S. 2017, reflects the belief among Republican appropriators that the U.S. fiscal crisis is at least as grave a security threat as threats from terrorism. In a report accompanying the bill, House Appropriations Committee Republicans said that while DHS plays a "vital role" in countering threats from terrorists, that it not their only consideration.

Tea Party favorite Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) on Thursday night spent five minutes on the House floor in an attempt to justify her vote for the Patriot Act, after admitting to receiving significant feedback from her supporters urging her to reject it.

"We have had calls, we've had requests on our Facebook, Twitter and on our email urging a 'no' vote tonight on the Patriot Act," she said on the floor. "I cast a yes vote on this act."

The House also approved a measure to prohibit ground troops from being sent to Libya.

The House Rules Committee met at 6:20 p.m. to quickly approve a rule for S. 990, which will extend Patriot Act surveillance authorities until June 1, 2015.

The rule allows for one hour of debate on the bill, and it was approved by voice vote in a meeting that lasted about five minutes. Members adjourned and were moving to the floor to consider the rule and the bill, which must be approved tonight if Congress is to avoid a lapse in Patriot Act authorities.

Earlier in the week, Rules approved a measure allowing the House to consider the extension on the House floor immediately after a rule was approved. The committee met Thursday night to approve a rule for the bill itself.

—This story was updated at 6:28 p.m.

The House Thursday morning passed four en bloc amendments to the NDAA by voice, and by 12:30 p.m. was beginning a series of votes on specific amendments.

Details on the amendments can be found here, and descriptions of the en bloc packages follow.