Senate

Sen. Bill Cassidy backs House DHS bill

by Jordain Carney - 02/24/15 7:10 PM ET

Sen. Bill Cassidy called on senators to pass a House-backed bill to fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), after Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) offered to put forward a clean DHS bill.

{mosads}The House bill would fund the department but also reverse President Obama’s executive actions on immigration.

“The bill is not just about whether or not we should fund the Department of Homeland Security … but whether we will provide amnesty to those who are here illegally,” the freshman Louisiana Republican said during a floor speech.

McConnell said Tuesday that the Senate would vote to take up an immigration bill eliminating two new immigration programs launched by the White House late last year.

McConnell also offered to take up a clean bill that would fund DHS through Sept. 30. The move separates the bill from the immigration fight that is behind the current legislative stalemate.

Cassidy isn’t the only Republican to push for House-passed bill following McConnell’s announcement. Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) said Tuesday that Congress “has the duty to stop” Obama’s immigration action.

Senate Democrats have blocked the legislation from coming up for debate, and Republicans don’t have the votes to overcome a filibuster. Cassidy said Democrats should stop opposing the legislation and let it pass “to protect our country … and mostly importantly to protect the Constitution.”

Tags Bill Cassidy Immigration