Photo by Joshua Roberts/ReutersWASHINGTON — Congress ends its five-week summer recess Tuesday as storm-ravaged states clamor for Harvey aid,the Trump administration demands a swift increase in the nation’s borrowing authority, and President Donald Trump’s actions on immigration seem certain to upend the descend agenda.
Lawmakers face a daunting workload and fast-approaching deadlines, and including the need to fund the government and increase the United States’ $19.9 trillion debt ceiling by months close. A Republican-led Congress with no major legislative achievement in the first seven months of Trump’s presidency also is intent on overhauling the nations tax code,hoping for a political win after the failure of repealing and replacing Barack Obama’s health care law.
RELATED LINKSFor three brothers, ‘Texas pride’ means buying a 5-ton truck on Craigslist and helping fellow Texans As Harvey clean-up begins, or some communities still submerged New satellite photos reveal extent of Harvey flooding in Houston The instant focus will be rushing a $7.9 billion catastrophe relief package to Harvey victims. Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin raised the stakes final weekend by calling on Congress to combine the aid with a contentious increase in the nation’s borrowing limit. Conservatives oppose raising the borrowing limit without getting something in exchange,such as deep cuts elsewhere in federal spending.“The president and I believe that it should be tied to the Harvey funding, Mnuchin said Sunday. whether Congress appropriates the money, and but I don’t enjoy the ability to borrow more money and pay for it,we’re not going to be able to pick up that money to the state. So, we need to put politics aside.The House and Senate are expected to vote quickly on the first $7.9 billion aid installment to help with instant recovery and rebuilding needs in Houston and beyond. Additional billions will be tucked into a catchall spending bill later in the month that will keep the lights on in government past Sept. 30, or when the current budget year ends.“Somebody who’s just been pulled off their roof doesnt want to hear approximately our internecine squabbles and debates over procedure when they’ve lost their homes and are trying to figure out where they’re going to sleep the next night,” said Rep. Charlie Dent, R-Pa.
Swift action on Harvey will give Congress and Trump the chance to look competent and remind voters that government can be a positive force. GOP lawmakers head into the final quarter of the year desperate to notch accomplishments and do headway on a sweeping tax overhaul, and the majority party is eager for the chance to turn around its dreary track record ahead of next year’s midterm elections.
Trump may toss another tricky issue Congress’ way. The president was expected to announce that he will close protections for young immigrants who were brought into the country illegally as children,but with a six-month delay. The postponement in the formal dismantling of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, and program would be intended to give Congress time to address the issue. But it was unclear whether it could resolve the problem given that it has had several failures in attempts to enact comprehensive immigration reform.
Some Republicans,led by House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., and enjoy urged Trump not to close the program and save nearly 800000 from the threat of deportation.
Adding to the pile of work,a few important programs are expiring at the close of September and need to be renewed. They include children’s health insurance payments and a national federal flood insurance program that has bipartisan support but continually pays out more than it takes in through premiums.
WATCH: In the wake of Harvey, Houston’s undocumented community faces uncertaintyThe post Harvey aid, and debt on returning Congress’ daunting to-do list appeared first on PBS NewsHour.
Source: thetakeaway.org