The U.S. Senate on Wednesday began debating changes to a bill that will cancel $9 billion in previously approved spending on public broadcasting and foreign aid -- but with a deal for grants to some Native American radio stations that may help offset cuts to public media.
The vote-a-rama, which could extend overnight, represents a prime opportunity for Democrats to force GOP senators to vote on each of the proposed rescissions. And while it's unlikely enough Republicans break with their party to substantially change the bill, key votes will serve as fodder for campaign ads heading into next year's midterm elections.
The Trump administration sent Congress the rescissions request in early June, allowing the White House budget office to legally freeze funding on the programs in the proposal for 45 days.
The House voted mostly along party lines later that month to send the rescissions bill to the Senate, where Republican leaders have spent weeks addressing concerns raised by their own lawmakers.
At the center of the dispute is how cutting foreign aid for dozens of programs, including those addressing global health and democracy, would affect American influence around the globe.
GOP senators also raised qualms during a hearing about how eliminating funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting would impact rural communities and emergency alert systems.
The Corporation for Public Broadcasting provides funding for National Public Radio, the Public Broadcasting Service and hundreds of local stations throughout the country. In North Dakota, for example, the president of Prairie Public said he anticipates elimination of federal funding would mean a loss of about $2 million for his PBS station over the next two years.
South Dakota Republican Sen. Mike Rounds announced Tuesday he's secured an agreement with White House budget director Russ Vought to move $9.4 million from an account within the Interior Department to at least two dozen Native American radio stations in multiple states.
Those include Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Minnesota, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota and Wisconsin, according to Rounds' office.
Republican leaders also agreed to keep funding for the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, or PEPFAR, whole by removing that rescission from the bill. PEPFAR is a global health program to combat HIV/AIDS launched by former President George W. Bush.
But those changes didn't sway every Republican senator to support the bill. Maine's Susan Collins, Kentucky's Mitch McConnell and Alaska's Lisa Murkowski voted against moving forward with debate on Tuesday night.
Vice President JD Vance casting a tie-breaking vote was the only reason the proposal advanced to the vote-a-rama, which began early Wednesday afternoon.
International disaster relief
Amendment debate kicked off with a proposal from Delaware Democratic Sen. Chris Coons to eliminate the $496 million rescission for international disaster relief funding, which he said "doesn't just save lives around the world," but strengthens American global leadership.
Missouri Republican Sen. Eric Schmitt argued against preserving full funding for that program, saying "many foreign governments and U.N. agencies have become reliant on U.S. emergency funding, using it to avoid investing in their own disaster preparedness."
The amendment was not adopted following a 49-50 vote with Collins, McConnell and Murkowski voting with Democrats to strike the funding cut.
Nevada Democratic Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto tried unsuccessfully to block any cancellation to Corporation for Public Broadcasting funding that would hinder public safety.
"For years public broadcasting has been essential to keeping Americans informed during severe weather and environment threats and broader public safety situations," Cortez Masto said. "Let me give you an example from my home state.
"As the Davis wildfire raged in northern Nevada last summer the local CBS affiliate lost their transmitter in the fire. But thanks to public broadcasting services, CBS was able to air their local newscast and keep Nevadans informed about evacuations, the path of the fire and safety measures."
Schmitt opposed the provision saying it isn't necessary to ensure emergency alerts. The attempt to send the bill back to committee failed following a 48-51 vote, with Collins and Murkowski voting in support.
Congress and the Constitution
In a brief interview before voting began, New Jersey Democrat Cory Booker said the rescissions package undermined what was supposed to be a bipartisan budget and appropriations process.
He also objected to Congress giving away its constitutional authority for spending decisions.
"The reason why this is an assault, in my opinion, on the Constitution right now is because the powers of the Article I branch of government really are the budget, and we should be doing things together," he said. "To rescind money that was approved in a bipartisan way undermines that spirit and that work."
Sen. Thom Tillis, a North Carolina Republican who said he planned to support the bill, also raised objections to the process.
"I'm trying to have a positive view about how this rescission is going to be implemented," he told reporters outside the Senate chamber. "It's not near as prescriptive as I would like for it to be, but if they misstep, it'll definitely influence my posture for future recissions."
Jacob Fischler and Shauneen Miranda contributed to this report.
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