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The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has been shut down for 66 days.  The White House believes that the current pay period, which ends this Friday, is the last it can cover with its executive authority.  It needs the House to pass the Senate bill by the end of this month – that measure would…

 Republican leaders have set a very ambitious timeline for passage of a reconciliation 2.0 bill.   If action is delayed during any point in this process, Republican leaders may shorten or cancel the Memorial Day recess, currently scheduled to start on May 25.

House Appropriations Subcommittees began marking-up FY 2027 spending bills last Friday.  The full markup schedule is listed below.  The chamber is starting with the smallest bills because leaders have not yet agreed to topline spending amounts.  The House process is likely to be partisan, meaning the bills will pass in that chamber with little if…

Last week, Senate Republicans (except Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY)) and Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) blocked consideration of an Iran War Powers resolution.  The House then narrowly rejected its own War Powers resolution. Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) supported it with all Democrats except Rep. Jared Golden (D-ME); Rep. Warren Davidson (R-OH) voted present.   Under the…

House Republicans have not yet resolved disputes relating to federal government surveillance authorities granted under section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA).  Those authorities were scheduled to expire on Monday, April 20, but last Friday Congress agreed to extend them until April 30, avoiding a lapse in authority and buying a bit more…

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced that Phase 1 of its Consolidated Administration and Processing of Entries (CAPE) process for refunding International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) tariffs began Monday, April 20, 2026. Phase 1 is limited and does not cover every type of IEEPA transaction. CBP guidance on CAPE and Phase 1 refund…

I wanted to share the attached letters regarding ASA’s urgent concern regarding the recent modifications to Section 232 tariffs on steel, aluminum, and copper, effective April 6. These changes impose duties of up to 25% on the full value of HVACR systems, including those produced with U.S.-origin metals, eliminating the exemption that supported domestic manufacturing.…

Congress reconvened this week to address a comprehensive agenda, including fiscal year 2026 appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security and additional funding allocations for immigration enforcement and defense. Republican leadership is preparing to advance President Trump’s request through a partisan expedited process, aiming to bypass a Democratic filibuster. This initiative faces a challenging timeline,…

ASA supports the Working Families Tax Cut Act. This legislation shields employers and workers from the largest tax increase in U.S. history and strengthens the backbone of our economy. By making permanent lower rates and the Section 199A small business deduction, the bill allows pass-through businesses—employing 63% of private-sector workers—to compete fairly with larger corporations…

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has been unfunded for 59 days.  On April 1, President Trump asked Congress for a reconciliation bill by June 1 to fund ICE and CBP, implying support for the Senate-passed Homeland Security appropriations bill. House GOP leaders had resisted voting on that bill before recess. Senate Majority Leader Thune…