The Bellevue Compass

If there’s a topic you’re interested in our analysis of, feel free to drop us a line. We’ll be doing deeper dives on the big stuff as it happens, but we’re always happy to hear what you want to know.

Welcome back to The Bellevue Compass. The FISA bill has thrown a wrench into the GOP’s plans; a fight over the farm bill is growing; and the GOP's reconciliation plan for DHS funding has been revealed. We’re breaking it all down below. 

An Update on Iran

While the ceasefire was set to expire last night between Iran and the United States, President Trump extended it indefinitely after a request from Pakistan, which is attempting to mediate the conflict, but the Strait of Hormuz blockade remains in effect. You can find the live updates here. 

The Congressional Breakdown

Congress is battling it out on all fronts, and its approval rating has dropped to a historic low. According to a new Gallup poll, Americans' approval of Congress has fallen to 10%, barely above its all-time low of 9%. They’ve tied their record high disapproval at 86%. The midterms are shaping up to be interesting.

Last week, Congress passed a short-term reauthorization of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, or FISA. The section now expires on April 30th, and the House only has a few days to figure out a solution after hard-liners tanked attempts to pass a five-year, then an 18-month renewal. [insert about FISA act from last week]. 

The reauthorization of FISA is setting up a few weeks of chaos for Congress as President Trump’s self-imposed June 1 DHS funding deadline approaches. More on DHS funding later, but here’s what to know: the argument over the FISA extension is dividing Republicans, some of whom want to see stronger protections to ensure that Americans’ data isn’t inadvertently swept up by agencies collecting data on other nationals abroad. There’s also a demand to ban the future launch of the central bank digital currency as part of the FISA bill, which Majority Leader Thune has warned against attaching for fear that it will tank Senate support of the bill. 

On top of the FISA fight, Congress is hoping to find a deal for DHS funding before President Trump’s June 1 deadline. Senate Budget Chair Lindsey Graham unveiled his blueprint for a GOP reconciliation bill on Tuesday, and, as predicted, it tasks the Senate Judiciary Committee and the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee with drafting the immigration enforcement bill. It gives a deadline of May 15 for members to hand over the text. 

The plan fully funds Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) for 3.5 years, as outlined in a 58-page resolution. Total spending for the Judiciary’s and Homeland Security’s portions is $70 billion each, and while the language would allow for a larger bill, a Graham aide said Tuesday that “Republicans are aiming to keep the measure to about $70 billion.” Senate Republicans are aiming to put the final immigration enforcement bill on the floor the week of May 11.

And onto the next: the long-awaited farm bill. For reference and knowledge, the “farm bill” is a Farm, Food, and National Security Act, part of a broader process that is typically renewed every five years. It addresses key aspects of agricultural policy such as nutrition assistance, conservation programs, and rural development. The Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 has been touted by leadership as “budget-neutral and prioritizes responsible spending on agriculture”. 

Legislative battles, like the FISA reauthorization, and ongoing discussion over nutrition and “climate-smart agricultural policies”, as well as the GOP’s use of major spending cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program to pay for tax cuts and farm safety net improvements in their massive tax and spending package last year, sparking anger among Democrats. All of this is paving the way for a difficult path to the swift adoption of the farm bill. 

In related news outside of policy, Democrat Anililia Mejia of New Jersey was sworn in on Monday by Speaker Johnson. The GOP’s majority remains narrow, 217-214-1. However, there are more changes still: before the House Ethics Committee was set to decide on Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick’s (D-Fla.) corruption charges, she resigned in a statement on Tuesday. The Justice Department indicted Cherfilus-McCormick for stealing $5 million in Covid relief funds. 

The Sector Breakdown

The Pennsylvania Impact

Amid the mess of Congressional actions that need to be taken, another one is looming: A vote on war powers. 

We held the information for this section because it’s Pennsylvania’s Representative Brian Fitzpatrick (R) who has introduced legislation forcing President Trump to end the military operations at the 60-day mark and withdraw all U.S. forces from the conflict within 30 days afterward. The president is within his rights to continue operations in Iran until the 60-day mark, when the War Powers Act will require him to obtain Congress’s approval to continue operations. If Fitzpatrick’s resolution points to anything, it’s that members of the GOP might be willing to pull the plug on Trump’s operations in Iran. While the House has rejected Democratic-led efforts to curb Trump’s war powers ahead of the 60-day mark—which will be April 29th—we’ll be keeping an eye on what happens next as the deadline approaches. 

You might remember from a few weeks ago when we discussed the SAVE Act—Under the legislation, new voters will be required to present documented proof of citizenship when registering to vote—which has been a continued topic of conversation as the GOP seeks to attach the bill to another to get it passed. It failed its passage in the Senate 53-47 on March 26th, but remains open for continued debate on the floor. 

One of the main positions of the SAVE Act is a narrative that aims to prevent fraud in the voting system. In Pennsylvania, Auditor General Timothy DeFoor’s office set out to determine if the commonwealth is experiencing this fraud. In an audit of more than 200,000 transactions in Pennsylvania’s motor-voter registration, the audit revealed only one instance in which officials allowed a non-U.S. citizen to apply. 

What We’re Watching: 

Did You Know? Today is Earth Day! Pennsylvania’s first official Earth Day celebration happened on April 22, 1970, at the Belmont Plateau in Fairmount Park. More than 30,000 people attended.

Till next time,