Senators will return to work next week in hopes of reaching an agreement on border policy measures that have been tied to a bill to authorize additional arms and ammunition for Ukraine before Christmas, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) announced on Dec. 14.
The Senate had been scheduled to adjourn for the holidays on Dec. 15 but will return after a weekend break. Mr. Schumer said the Senate will vote on supplemental aid for Ukraine and Israel next week “no matter what.”
“If we believe something is important and urgent, we should stay and get the job done. That is certainly the case with the supplemental [funding request]. It is important, it is urgent,” he said.
Additional military aid for Ukraine is part of a $106 billion supplemental funding package requested by President Joe Biden that includes $45 billion in military aid for Ukraine, $14.3 billion for Israel, $13.6 billion for U.S. border security, and $10 billion for humanitarian aid for Israel, Ukraine, Gaza, and refugees entering the United States.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) informed the Senate on Nov. 29 that House Republicans wouldn’t approve supplemental aid for Ukraine unless the Senate first agrees to the provisions of HR 2, a border security bill passed by the House earlier this year.
Senate Republicans, who are similarly demanding tougher border security measures in exchange for Ukraine aid, are currently negotiating with Democrats to reach a deal. No agreement has been reached, with Democrats calling the GOP’s policy demands “unreasonable” and Republicans refusing to soften their stance.
A spokesman for Mr. Johnson refused to comment on the possibility of reaching an 11th-hour deal with the Senate.
Republicans Insist on Border Security
Although talks have been deadlocked, recent progress appears to have been made, according to White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre.“It is going in the right direction, we believe, because those conversations continue and that’s what matters as we talk about the border and border security and moving forward with making sure we get the supplemental done,” Ms. Jean-Pierre told reporters on Dec. 14.
For a number of Republicans in both chambers, securing the southern border is the top priority and must be done before any additional funds are sent to Ukraine.
“There are a number of ways of doing that. It doesn’t have to be my way, but it has to result in results. No more lip service and federal money,” Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) told The Epoch Times.
Although both sides lament the lack of an agreement, the deadlock was foreseen by some members of Congress.
“I know what the Senate is going to do,” Rep. Ralph Norman (R-S.C.) told The Epoch Times on Dec. 6. “They’re going to continue what they’ve done and try to give us an omnibus at the end of the year. That’s not going to work. Mike Johnson is either going to have the border secured, HR 2, or everything is dead.”
Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas) was more optimistic. He told The Epoch Times on Dec. 14 that a major policy concession by Senate Democrats might be enough to persuade “the majority of the majority” to sign on to a deal.
That deal would have to include genuine progress on securing the border, many GOP representatives insist.
Ukraine Pushing for Resources
Democrats laid blame for the lack of progress at the feet of their Republican colleagues, saying it plays into the hands of Russian President Vladimir Putin, who invaded Ukraine nearly two years ago.Citing Mr. Putin’s remarks in a Dec. 14 press conference, Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) reported that the Russian leader said, “Well done, Republicans, for standing firm. That’s good for us.”
“Just a few hours ago, at the end of the year press conference, Vladimir Putin himself said of Ukraine, ‘Everything is coming from the West. But the free things will run out someday. And it seems it is already happening,’” Mr. Hoyer said on the House floor.
“If we neglect to send these resources without conditioning, without delay, we fail not only the people of Ukraine but the people of Israel and the people in Palestine, to whom we want to give relief and humanitarian aid.”
Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, made a third visit to Washington on Dec. 12, presenting his case for additional arms to the Senate, to Mr. Johnson, and to President Biden.
Shalanda Young, director of the White House Office of Management and Budget, wrote to congressional leaders on Dec. 4 warning that existing U.S. resources available to send to Ukraine would soon be exhausted.
“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,” Ms. Young wrote.
GOP hardliners were unmoved by the growing urgency in Ukraine.
“For whatever reason, the Biden administration is obsessed with our country having an open border, and we just can’t have it. It'll be the end of the country,” Rep. Glenn Grothman (R-Wis.) told The Epoch Times.
Speaking of U.S. border security, Mr. Grothman said: “I think we’ve got to watch it be implemented as well. We’ve got to show they’re capable of shutting down the border.”
The House approved $14.3 billion in aid to Israel on Nov. 11 but added the stipulation that it be paid for with existing funds. Democrats have insisted that the entire package be approved in a single vote.
The House is scheduled to reconvene on Jan. 9.
