The Senate appeared set on Monday to reject negotiations on an additional $110 billion spending bill for aid for Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan and US border security through 2024, with some Republicans saying it was impossible for the legislative text to be finalized before the holidays.
“Although Senate leadership has yet to admit it, negotiators themselves say writing and voting on a bill before we are scheduled back the week of Jan. 8 is not possible,” Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) told The Post in a statement.
“I am happy to let the negotiations continue during the recess, and then have the opportunity to fully review, debate and amend what they produce.”
A few hours later, Senate Minority Whip John Thune (R-SD) told CNN that “no way” the vote will happen this week.
On Sunday, Johnson and 14 Senate Republicans sent a letter to Conference Chairman John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) requesting a meeting when the upper chamber returns in January to discuss the effort.
“Although Senate leadership has yet to admit it, negotiators themselves say writing and voting on a bill before we’re scheduled back the week of Jan. 8 is not possible,” Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) told The Post. AP The Senate appeared poised to scrap Monday on talks on a $110 billion national security supplement for Ukraine and the US border. Michael Brochstein/ZUMA Press Wire / SplashNews.com
“Hurried and secret negotiations with Democrats who want open borders and who caused the current crisis will not secure the border,” they wrote, demanding an “open and transparent process” begin in the new year.
Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), who did not join his colleagues in the letter, told The Post on Monday that President Biden and his administration were “moving slowly” in the negotiation process.
Biden, 81, tied the Ukraine and border funding requests to each other in October – along with other aid proposals for Israel and Taiwan – and has demanded Congress approve the measure before it stops or hand Russian President Vladimir Putin “the greatest Christmas present ever”. .” they might be able to give it to him.”
Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.), who has been the lead Republican negotiator on the bill, worked through the weekend on several aspects of the asylum proposal but had yet to announce a deal by Monday afternoon. AP
But congressional Republicans have refused to provide funding without substantive reforms to US asylum policy or appropriate safeguards for Ukrainian aid.
Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.), the lead Republican negotiator on the bill, worked through the weekend on several aspects of the asylum proposal but had yet to announce a deal by Monday afternoon.
“We’re pushing and saying, ‘If it’s not clearer now that we have two and a half million people who have crossed the border illegally in the last year, and we’re now up to 10,000 people a day crossing the border — if it’s not clearer now that this is a necessity, when will it become clear?” Lankford told The Post last week when asked about the discussion.
The White House previously warned that Ukraine’s military aid was in danger of running out by the end of 2023, before a visit to Capitol Hill from President Volodymyr Zelensky revealed the deadline was still months away. Michael Brochstein/ZUMA Press Wire / SplashNews.com
“The effects of years of failed border enforcement are compounded, border security policy is complex and our colleagues at the negotiating table are clear about the fact that getting this agreement right and producing legislative text will take some time,” Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R -Ky.), a supporter of additional aid to Ukraine, said in his floor speech Monday.
“I am encouraged by our colleagues’ commitment to continue to make solid progress in their negotiations over the coming weeks and beyond.”
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) also thanked the negotiators – who also included Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.) – for the extra hours they put in.
Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), who did not join other GOP senators in the letter, told The Post on Monday that President Biden and his administration are “going slowly” through the process as well. REUTERS President Biden welcomed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to the White House last week. Getty Images
“Finding middle ground is very difficult, and both sides have to accept they’re going to have to make concessions and it’s going to take some time to get it done,” Schumer said.
Murphy acknowledged the framework should be in place by the end of Monday for the vote to take place this week, according to a statement reported by Punchbowl News.
Schumer in his floor speech only committed to confirming “before the end of the week” a list of military nominations that have been held up for months by Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) in protest of the Pentagon’s policy of repaying service members. who cross state lines to undergo an abortion procedure.
Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) acknowledged a framework should be in place by the end of the day for a vote later this week, according to a statement reported by Punchbowl News. Getty Images
The White House previously warned that Ukraine’s military aid was in danger of running out by the end of 2023, before a visit to Capitol Hill by Kyiv President Volodymyr Zelensky revealed the deadline was still months away.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) criticized the Biden administration’s lack of transparency on Ukraine aid following his own meeting with Zelensky, and has sent the lower house into recess until Jan. 9.
“What the Biden Administration seems to be asking for is billions of additional dollars without proper oversight, no clear strategy to win, and no answers that I think the American people are owed,” he told reporters at the time.
When the House returns to Washington, lawmakers will have a little more than a week to finalize a national security bill and pass it in both chambers before taking further appropriations steps to avoid a partial government shutdown.
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