Senate passes bill to partially reopen DHS, setting up House vote

By Ellis Kim, CNN

(CNN) — The Senate on Thursday unanimously approved a bill to partially reopen the Department of Homeland Security, a step toward ending the longest-ever partial government shutdown.

The measure now goes back to the House, which last week declined to take it up in favor of a different funding bill.

House Republican leaders are expected to consider the measure this time, after reaching an agreement with Senate Majority Leader John Thune to pursue a larger bill this spring that will include spending for the president’s immigration and border agenda.

It’s not clear when the House will vote. Both chambers are out on a two-week recess but have been convening brief “pro forma” sessions.

The latest move comes after Thune issued a statement with House Speaker Mike Johnson on Wednesday announcing a plan to end the partial shutdown following a dispute between Senate and House Republicans that saw Johnson snub a bipartisan deal that passed in the Senate.

That deal would have partially reopened the department but without funding Immigration and Customs Enforcement and border patrol.

Thune and Johnson revealed a two-track plan in their statement on Wednesday to end the shutdown with a partial reopening of DHS and to pursue a second megabill to secure that extra immigration funding.

One major remaining hurdle is when exactly the House will be willing to pass the Senate plan that they rejected just last week.

Lawmakers have, meanwhile, been under intense pressure to return from recess, with TMZ publishing pictures of members leaving Washington, on vacation, at family events, back in their home states and on official congressional trips abroad.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

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