Evening Report — Redo week for Congress

by Amee LaTour - 02/12/24 4:54 PM ET

Evening Report

Senate, House take another swing at Ukraine aid, Mayorkas impeachment

The theme at the Capitol this week: Congress tries again.

IN THE HOUSE, Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) is hoping for a different outcome on an impeachment vote against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.

The resolution narrowly failed last week, but with Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) returning from cancer treatment and supporting the resolution, it could pass the chamber if all else stays the same.

THE SENATE, meanwhile, is chipping away at procedural votes on a foreign aid bill with funding for Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan and more after Senate Republicans last week blocked a package that included border policy reforms, which had been in the works since before the holidays.

Another procedural vote on the $93 billion package may come Monday night, with passage in the chamber possible this week.

Welcome to Evening Report! I’m Amee LaTour, catching you up from the afternoon and what’s coming tomorrow. Not on the list? Subscribe here.

CATCH UP QUICK

A special election for New York’s 3rd Congressional District, formerly represented by ousted Rep. George Santos (R), will be held Tuesday.
Deputy assistant to the president John Kirby is being promoted to White House national security communications adviser.
Veteran NPR host Bob Edwards died Saturday night, his wife, NPR reporter Windsor Johnston, shared in a Facebook post.
The Hill’s Hanna Trudo digs into the commotion surrounding a super PAC’s $7 million Super Bowl ad supporting Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

NEW THIS AFTERNOON

Biden, Jordan’s King Abdullah II meet for Gaza talk

President Biden met with Jordan’s King Abdullah II at the White House on Monday to discuss efforts to end the conflict between Israel and Hamas and to get humanitarian assistance into Gaza.

As The Associated Press noted, Jordan has called for a cease-fire before long-term planning begins, while the U.S. has opposed a general cease-fire.

Biden and Abdullah spoke at a press conference this afternoon.

cabinet

Austin to resume duties Tuesday after procedure

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is expected to resume duties Tuesday after a procedure to address a bladder issue, according to the Pentagon.

Austin transferred his duties to his deputy and was taken to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on Sunday. Austin had returned to the Pentagon on Jan. 29 after being hospitalized for an infection stemming from surgery for prostate cancer.

ON THIS DAY

🪵 In 1809 (215 years ago), President Lincoln was born in a log cabin in Kentucky.

IN OTHER NEWS

Center-right group to hold CPAC rival event

The group Principles First plans to host a counterprogramming event to the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) later this month, saying its rival summit will focus on “a more principled center-right politics.” Speakers include former Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) and Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger (R).

SAT requirements may make a comeback

Dartmouth College will resume requiring SAT or ACT scores from applicants, something it and many other institutions stopped doing amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The Hill’s Lexi Lonas delves into the debate around bringing the requirement back.

OP-EDS IN THE HILL

“President Biden deserves a well-earned victory lap on judges”

“Biden needs the youth vote — and he can’t get it without real action on climate change”

⏲️ COUNTDOWN

1 day until New York’s 3rd Congressional District special election.

12 days until South Carolina’s Republican presidential primary.

15 days until Michigan’s Democratic and Republican presidential primaries.

🗓 COMING NEXT

Tuesday: The Bureau of Labor Statistics releases the consumer price index for January at 8:30 a.m. ET.

Thursday-Saturday: Vice President Harris attends the Munich Security Conference in Germany.

Friday: President Biden travels to East Palestine, Ohio, near where a Norfolk Southern train carrying toxic chemicals derailed in February of last year.