House Speaker Paul D. Ryan said Thursday that the House will pass the spending bill if Democrats support the measure as well.
“I think we will. I feel good. Part of it depends on the Democrats,” Mr. Ryan, Wisconsin Republican, said on “The Hugh Hewitt Show.”
“We are going to deliver our share of support,” he added, speaking for Republican members.
He said the bill ends the Obama-era policy of pledging equal support for military and non-military issues and begins the process of restoring the military with proper funding. Mr. Ryan said this is yet another example of Congress moving ahead on an agenda laid out by President Trump during the 2016 campaign.
“We are painstakingly, step-by-step, implementing this agenda,” Mr. Ryan said.
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi threatened to withhold her caucus’ support for the bill if Mr. Ryan doesn’t promise to hold a floor debate on Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) — protections for those brought to the U.S. illegally as children.
The Senate needs to pass the bill over to the House, but Mr. Ryan said if all goes accordingly, the vote will be held later Thursday evening.
When asked about Mr. Trump’s penchant for controversy through tweets or off-handed remarks, Mr. Ryan said with all Congress has accomplished, they could do without the “white noise.”
“We had our fair share of conversations about these things, you can imagine,” Mr. Ryan said.
• Sally Persons can be reached at spersons@washingtontimes.com.
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