Look for something quite unusual on the House floor Friday: Democrats will likely provide the necessary votes on a rule setting up debate on a foreign aid package for Israel, Ukraine, Taiwan and a fourth pillar that also includes a TikTok divestment bill.
How this will work: House lawmakers will vote on the rule, passed thanks to Democrats on the Rules Committee late Thursday, around 10:30 a.m. The vote breakdown promises to be a strange one; the minority party virtually never votes for a majority-led rule. Final votes on the bills would then be held Saturday, but the rule allows them to be reassembled and sent over to the Senate as one.
“We may be in the minority in the House right now, but [House Minority Leader Hakeem] @RepJeffries is essentially functioning as the real Speaker already,” wrote Rep. Grace Meng (D-N.Y.). “Work horses not just show horses.” More from Jordain on the late-night drama.
Also on the agenda: The chamber will begin considering a modified version of their strict border security measure under suspension of the rules, which would require two-thirds support to pass. Republicans could not pass a rule for this measure in Rules earlier in the week and Democrats don’t back it, so passage chances appear low.
As if all that wasn’t enough, the Senate struggled Thursday evening to reach agreement on a package of amendments to a reauthorization of a controversial surveillance tool, known as Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. That program faces a midnight lapse.
Votes are not yet scheduled but are expexted Friday. “We are continuing to work on an agreement on the FISA bill,” Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said late Thursday on the floor.
