House and Senate lawmakers are nearing a deal to fund border security, including “new technology, additional border patrol agents, and likely some kind of fencing in certain areas along the southern border,” according to the Washington Examiner.
The Examiner notes that there is no mention of a border wall in the deal “per orders of Democratic leaders who vehemently oppose it.”
Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Richard Shelby (R-AL) said yesterday, “I gave a report on meeting with the president and I thought things were on the positive trajectory as far as maybe concluding the funding,” Shelby said. “But we are not there yet.”
Shelby said Thursday afternoon that the next 72 hours would be critical if Democrats and Republicans are to reach a long-sought deal on border security that would also allow passage of seven spending bills and ensure full government funding by a Feb. 15 deadline.
“We’ve got serious negotiations going on,” Shelby said.
The main sticking point is how much money to provide for border barriers and what those barriers will look like.
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