Democrats are outlining a proposal to reform the U.S. immigration system at a high cost. At the White House Thursday, Biden met with 11 congressional Democrats to discuss spending more than $1 trillion to provide a pathway to citizenship for DACA recipients as part of the reconciliation bill.
House lawmakers passed a State Department funding bill in a narrow near party-line vote. The body voted 217-to-212 on Wednesday to approve the $62.2 billion package for the department and its foreign operations.
The Biden administration is already taking steps to spend up to $52 billion in improving semiconductor manufacturing in the U.S. According to Commerce Department Secretary Gina Raimondo on Thursday, the administration is putting the pieces in place to invest the $52 billion to start production.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) plans to move forward with a test vote on a bipartisan infrastructure bill. The New York Democrat made the announcement on the Senate floor Monday.
Republican senators are gearing up for a fight with Democrats over two large spending bills. In an interview Sunday, Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) gave an update on negotiations for bipartisan infrastructure legislation. The Ohio lawmaker revealed at this stage reform of IRS enforcement will not be part of a deal.