Republicans demand tougher measures to secure southern frontier, which Speaker Johnson calls an unsustainable catastrophe.
Senate Republicans on Dec. 6 blocked the advancement of a supplemental bill to fund Ukraine, Israel, and the border, taking issue with the bill’s border measures that they say are not tough enough.
The tally was 49–51 as the Senate failed to clear the 60-vote threshold to begin debate on the $110.5 billion package.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) voted no so he could bring it up again if he chooses.
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) voted against the procedural vote as he has called for conditioning assistance to Israel.
The day before the vote, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) called for his rank-and-file to vote against it “to make the point, hopefully for the final time, that we insist on meaningful changes to the border.”
Republicans have said they would not support Ukraine funding unless there is funding to secure the southern border.
The 167-page bill allocates $13.5 billion in weapons to Ukraine amid its war with Russia, which invaded the Eastern European country in February 2022.
Talks between Senate Democrats and Republicans reportedly broke down over the weekend, thereby jeopardizing further Ukraine aid.
The Biden administration has warned that U.S. funding for Ukraine is set to run out by the end of the year.
In a Dec. 4 letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), Office of Management and Budget Director Shalanda Young said funding for Kyiv will expire at the end of this year.
“I want to be clear: without Congressional action, by the end of the year, we will run out of resources to procure more weapons and equipment for Ukraine and to provide equipment from U.S. military stocks,” she wrote.
In response, Mr. Johnson sent a Dec. 5 letter to Ms. Young, reminding her that Ukraine funding is contingent on changing southern border policy and answers from the administration on their strategy for Ukraine.
“The open U.S. border is an unconscionable and unsustainable catastrophe, and we have a moral responsibility to insist this madness stops immediately,” he wrote.
“Rather than engaging with Congressional Republicans to discuss logical reforms, the Biden administration has ignored reality, choosing instead to engage in political posturing.”
