Number: 114-1
Date: January 15, 2015
House Passes H.R. 240
Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2015
On January 14, 2015, the House passed H.R. 240, the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2015, by a vote of 236 to 191. The bill would make appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) through September 30, 2015. The bill includes provisions that would:
- Prevent any funds from being used to carry-out the Executive actions announced November 20, 2014 to grant deferred action to unlawful aliens;
- Declare that no funds may be used to carry-out substantially similar policies to those defunded; and,
- Provide that no funds may be used to grant any Federal benefit to any alien as a result of the policies defunded.
The bill now moves to the Senate for action. However, the White House has issued a Statement of Administrative Policy (SAP) on H.R. 240, which states that the President’s senior advisors would recommend that he veto the bill if it includes “restrictions on [DHS’] ability to set smart enforcement priorities.” The SAP is available at http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/omb/legislative/sap/114/saphr240r_20150112.pdf.