Republican senators BLOCK Biden’s $110 billion package for Ukraine and Israel assistance over border security demands
Republican senators have blocked President Biden’s request for $110 billion in aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan as the GOP pushes to include stronger security measures on the southern border.
The vote was 49 to 51 on Wednesday night and they fell short of the 60 votes needed to advance. The package included $61 billion for Ukraine in addition to aid to Israel in its ongoing war against Hamas terrorists, humanitarian aid to Gaza and funds to support US partners in the Indo-Pacific region.
Earlier in the day, Biden said Congress must fix the border, while insisting he is open to “compromises” to get Ukraine aid across the finish line as migrant crossings hit records.
“Republicans in Congress are ready to give Putin the greatest gift he can hope for and relinquish our global leadership,” the president warned.
But new House Speaker Mike Johnson said after the failed Senate vote that the U.S.-Mexico border must be secured as part of any additional package. Earlier this month, the House passed a $14.3 billion aid bill for Israel, but Schumer refused to bring it up for debate.
“Now that Senator Schumer has demonstrated that there is not enough support for his partisan approach, House Republicans are repeating what we have said all along: Any additional national security legislation must protect our own border. The American people deserve no less,” he said.
The White House on Monday called on Congress to approve more aid to Ukraine as money runs out after nearly two years in which the United States has essentially bankrolled Kyiv’s ability to resist Russian onslaught.
The White House has sent an even more urgent and pointed message to Congress demanding more aid to Ukraine as money to help in its nearly two-year conflict with Russia runs out.
In a direct letter to Congress, Budget Director Shalanda Young wrote: “We do not have the money to support Ukraine in this fight. This is not a problem for next year. The time has come to help democratic Ukraine fight Russian aggression. It’s time for Congress to act.”
Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, President Joe Biden’s administration has provided about $44 billion in security assistance, including munitions and other military equipment.
Republicans have criticized the extent to which the US is sending money to Ukraine. Sen. Ron Johnson, a member of the Senate Homeland Security Committee, said it may be time to stop sending more aid.
Scroll down to read the letter
More Ukrainians continue to die every day in the eastern European conflict that began after Russia invaded in February 2022. Pictured: People remove debris from a building damaged by shelling in Donetsk, a Russian-controlled region of Ukraine, on Sunday, December 3.
“We have no idea what the endgame of the Biden administration is in Ukraine,” Johnson told John Catsimatidis during a Cats roundtable interview on Sunday. “I have nothing but sympathy for the Ukrainian people. Nothing but contempt for Putin. But Putin is not going to lose this war. They have resources. This is not a fair fight.
“Russia will not lose this war. You must acknowledge this reality. I don’t like this reality, but it’s true. The only way to end this war is through a negotiated settlement,” he added.
In her letter, Young wrote that “without Congressional action, by the end of the year we will run out of resources to purchase more weapons and equipment for Ukraine, as well as to provide equipment from the US military stockpile.”
“There is no magic funding source that can meet this need. We’re out of money and almost out of time.”
The billions sent to Ukraine are an effort to help the Eastern European country “preserve its territorial integrity, protect its borders, and improve interoperability with NATO,” according to the State Department.
The White House is increasingly concerned about Russia’s victory in Ukraine and says the amount of US aid cannot be replaced by other countries.
“Cutting off the flow of American weapons and equipment would kneecap Ukraine on the battlefield, not only jeopardizing Ukraine’s gains but also increasing the likelihood of Russian military victories,” Young writes.
The letter was sent to House Speaker Mike Johnson, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.
Democrats are poised to push for more support, and top Republicans in both chambers appear to support additional resources for Ukraine after receiving Young’s letter.
Speaker Johnson has twice previously voted against Ukraine aid packages, but is now officially a supporter, joining McConnell.
Monday’s message used the most alarming language yet from the Biden administration, calling on Congress to approve increased aid to Ukraine as the conflict with Russia approaches the two-year mark in February.
Young says the letter is intended to “express the urgent need we face as Congress decides whether we will continue to fight for freedom around the world or ignore the lessons we have learned from history and allow (Russian President Vladimir) Putin and autocracy to prevail “
In trying to persuade Republicans to continue funding the war effort in Ukraine, the White House is taking a different approach, pointing to money being pumped into red and purple states from money approved to help Kyiv.
Last week, the administration released a map showing how states benefit from aid packages to produce weapons for Ukraine, pointing to the fact that about 60 percent of Ukraine’s spending remained within U.S. borders.
White House Budget Director Shalanda Young writes that not sending more money would be handing victory to Russian President Vladimir Putin and the “autocracy.”
“It has improved our own military readiness as the Department of Defense purchases new equipment to replace what we send to Ukraine, launches and expands production lines, and supports good-paying jobs in dozens of states across the country,” Young said.
She pointed to the fact that nearly all 50 states benefit, and noted that air defense systems for both Ukraine and Israel are being built in Alabama, Texas and Georgia, all historically red states (with the exception of Georgia, which is blue).
The Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS), Young notes, is made in West Virginia, Arkansas and Texas, and javelins are made in Alabama, the redder states.
The swing states of Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Michigan produce tactical vehicles and ship them to Ukraine, she added.
“Every day this war continues, more Ukrainians die,” Senator Johnson said on Sunday. “Most of Ukraine will be destroyed. The sooner they reach a negotiated settlement, the better, in my opinion.”
“This war must end. We won’t like the result, but every day we will like the result less and less.”