GOOD MORNING! Welcome to Huddle, the play-by-play guide to all things Capitol Hill, on this Wednesday, May 11, where House staffers can now join unions.
UKRAINE PACKAGE IS (ALMOST) OUT FOR DELIVERY — The House overwhelmingly passed a nearly $40 billion aid package for Ukraine last night. (Past your Huddle host's bedtime, tbh.) The legislation attracted overwhelming support, passing with a 368-57 vote and all Democrats voting for the legislation. Now it's the Senate's turn to take it up. Catch up on the late night action that Nicholas, Jennifer Scholtes and Connor O'Brien were all watching. Democrats are also going to have to find a path to passage for the $10 billion in Covid health funding they took out of the package at Republicans' insistence. The Covid package might finally clear Congress on its own… More on that from Marianne and Burgess below. DEMOCRATIC LEADERS CRACK DOOR OPEN TO TITLE 42 VOTE — Senate Democratic leaders are signaling they're willing to give Republicans a vote to reverse the Biden administration's decision to end pandemic-era border restrictions, in exchange for moving forward on a $10 billion coronavirus aid deal. It's a shift in Democratic strategy, after the covid aid package was sidetracked weeks ago. Both Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), the No. 2 and No. 3 Senate Democrats, suggested the vote is worth taking if it allows the stalled pandemic aid package to proceed. But Schumer has yet to signal what he'll do. When asked about a potential floor vote on the Title 42 border policy, Schumer reiterated Tuesday that Republicans "should not be blocking Covid legislation" and said "we'll do everything we can to get Covid legislation passed." More from Marianne and Burgess. TOUGHER TO BRING HOME THE BACON — An emotional Rep. Katie Porter (D-Calif.) recently told her House Democratic colleagues that the cost of certain foods, specifically bacon, had gotten so high that she's had to tell her kids "no" in the grocery aisle. Porter, a single mother of three, says she spoke up in caucus to emphasize the power of members' own stories when it comes to making policy — and convincing the public that members of Congress get their pain. She's not alone: Some Democrats have warned for months their party is falling short when it comes to communicating on complex issues like inflation or the pandemic. "Too often, Congress recognizes issues too late," Porter told Sarah in an interview. "I had a colleague mention to me, 'We're not seeing it in the polls' ... Well, you don't know what to ask." There's one issue where Dems are already leaning into the power of storytelling — abortion rights. Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), now 65, had never told the story about how she went to Juarez, Mexico for a "back alley" abortion when she was in 11th grade. That is, until Roe was about to fall. She has now come forward, and said "many" colleagues have to come to her with their own story. Lee hopes voters, too, can connect with her experience: "Sharing stories – it's like, 'Oh, you're just like me.'" Sarah has more: Inflation's biting. Roe's fraying. Dems are still trying to connect with voters. FILIBUSTED — Montana Sen. Steve Daines was one of the few GOP senators nodding his head when former President Donald Trump urged Republicans to kill the legislative filibuster during unified GOP control. Not anymore. The second-term Republican said in an interview that he doesn't "think either side should be looking at blowing up the filibuster." He chalked it up to liberal hopes of using a simple majority to make D.C. or Puerto Rico a state or expand the Supreme Court. "No. I wouldn't," Daines said of whether he'd advocate changing the filibuster for abortion restrictions. THE MAN FROM OZ — Senate Republicans are dismissing attacks from Mehmet Oz's GOP primary opponents about his dual U.S.-Turkish citizenship ahead of next week's Pennsylvania Senate primary for the seat being vacated by retiring Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.), report Burgess and Marianne. Oz says if he wins a Senate seat this fall, he will renounce his Turkish citizenship. But opponents are saying the Trump-backed candidate is "Turkey first." "That whole line of attack is unsavory to me," said Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.). "I have no doubt that he's loyal to the United States." You might remember that a few months ago it was reported that Oz may forgo seeking security clearances to maintain his Turkish passport. He's since said he'd give up his citizenship if elected. Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) said in an interview Tuesday "My issue was when he stated he would not do classified hearings." His concerns on that front are "alleviated," but he's still backing Oz opponent David McCormick. LUNCH GUESTS — The New Democrat Coalition is meeting with HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra at their member lunch Wednesday to discuss reproductive care and health care access, according to a House Democratic aide. The Coalition's Inflation Working Group is also set to meet virtually with Larry Summers on Thursday. OFFICIALLY OFFICIAL— Rep. Kevin Hern (R-Okla.) officially announced his bid to lead the Republican Study Committee next year, with around 40 endorsements already stacked up. Of course Olivia had already scooped the Hern vs. Kat Cammack (R-Fla.) race for RSC chair back on May 5. | 
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