WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senate leadership said they are getting closer to a deal on border security and aid for Ukraine and other international security measures.
While Senate leadership said negotiations are still in the works, they seem optimistic they’re closer to a deal. While both sides acknowledge they won’t be able to get everything they want, one of the biggest hurdles is over in the House. Speaker Mike Johnson (R- LA) is adamant that he doesn’t want to move forward with a supplemental deal unless congress passes the House’s sweeping border policy legislation, better known as HR2. That legislation would drastically change the asylum process, require employers to verify that workers are documented, continue building the border wall and more. Some House democrats have describe that legislation as ‘draconian’ and lack human rights.
“Speaker Johnson at the moment says the only way he’s going to pass a bill is HR 2,” said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D- NY). “As I’ve said to him repeatedly and publicly till I’m blue in the face, you can’t do this unless it’s bipartisan and that’s not a bipartisan solution. Senator McConnell and I both believe that the Senate moving first with a hopefully as good a margin as we can get will then help us prevail upon the House to do something bipartisan as well.”
“The American people expect us to do something about this problem,” said Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R- KY). “And we’re working hard on a bipartisan basis to try and come up with a piece of legislation that would help begin to solve this crisis at the border.”
While republicans are pushing for border security changes, Senate leaders stressed about continuing supporting Ukraine. They argue our national security is at risk if we do not continue helping Ukraine.
