House Republicans kick off second session at the southern border

As the second session of the 118th Congress officially got underway Wednesday, more House Republicans were at the nation’s southern border than on Capitol Hill.

Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana, along with more than 60 members of the GOP conference, spent the day in Eagle Pass, Texas, as Senate negotiators and the Biden administration continued to try to get to an agreement on border security funding and policy changes. Bipartisan support for those changes is likely needed if Congress is to pass extra funding for Israel, Ukraine and other global hot spots.

“If President Biden wants a supplemental spending bill focused on national security, it better begin by defending America’s national security,” Johnson said during a press conference in Texas. 

Johnson said that as Senate negotiators are working toward a border deal, House Republicans are still supporting their proposed immigration measure, known as HR 2, which passed the House last year.