Senate Republicans try to fast-track emergency military pay as they brace for shutdown
FIRST ON FOX: Two Senate Republicans are leading the charge to ensure military members are paid during a potential partial government shutdown as Congress inches closer to the midnight deadline on Saturday morning.
Three Senate sources confirmed to Fox News Digital that Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, is leading an attempt to “hotline” a bill to make sure all armed services and the coast guard are paid in the event of a partial government shutdown.
A hotline is a procedure used by senators usually to pass procedural motions or relatively noncontroversial measures. The practice allows bills or motions to pass with often very little or no public debate at all.
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Sen. Sullivan is leading an effort to fast track a bill to ensure military pay during a shutdown.
Sullivan will take the Senate floor to make a live request for unanimous consent to consider the measure at 6 p.m.
The bill is entitled the Pay Our Troops Act. It is cosponsored by Republican Sens. Lisa Murskowski of Alaska, Ted Budd and Thom Tillis of North Carolina, Steve Daines of Montana, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Marco Rubio and Rick Scott of Florida, Tommy Tuberville of Alabama, Kevin Cramer of North Dakota, Roger Wicker and Cindy Hyde-Smith of Mississippi, Ted Cruz of Texas, Mike Rounds of South Dakota and JD Vance of Ohio.
A spokesperson for Murkowski told Fox News Digital in a statement, “Senator Murkowski is adamant that our Armed Forces should not worry about their paycheck or their mission to keep Americans safe because of Congressional politics. This is non-negotiable for her.”
Murkowski is a cosponsor of the bill. (Jemal Countess/Getty Images for JDRF)
One Republican source told Fox News Digital that they expect Senate Democrats to object to the request, noting that they have done so in the past.
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The effort is extending to the House side again as well, where Fox News Digital was told that Rep. Jen Kiggans, R-Va., is pressing for a vote on the version she introduced in the House.
“We’re obviously pushing to keep the government open, but as a backup plan, we need to be providing reassurance to our military,” Kiggans said, adding she’s spoken with House GOP leaders about getting a vote on her bill.
Fox News Digital’s Elizabeth Elkind contributed to this report.
