House Speaker voices opposition to Senate's $95 billion aid bill without border security
Mike Johnson, the Speaker of the US House of Representatives, has voiced his opposition to a Senate-proposed aid package that allocates $95 billion for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan. Johnson expressed his concerns on X (formerly Twitter) on Feb. 13, criticizing the bill for overlooking border security issues with Mexico.
Lawmakers "failed to meet the moment" and didn't include the issue of border security with Mexico in the document, according to Johnson.
"Now, in the absence of having received any single border policy change from the Senate, the House will have to continue to work its own will on these important matters," he stated, arguing that "America deserves better than the Senate’s status quo."
The Senate had earlier moved to fast-track the aid bill, bypassing debates and drawing closer to a final vote on the $95 billion assistance package for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan. This move came despite the absence of immigration and border policy measures in the bill, a point of contention highlighted by Johnson's critique.
Blocking aid to Ukraine: What is known
On Dec. 6, the bill funding aid to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan for approximately $106 billion failed procedural voting in the US Senate due to Republican demands for stricter immigration policies. They sought to strengthen the border with Mexico and only consider it in connection with aid to Ukraine and Israel.
On Jan. 19, Johnson revealed that he often discusses border reinforcement with former US President Donald Trump, including conversations on the eve of Biden’s meeting dedicated to the border and aid to Ukraine.
On Jan. 25, the Financial Times reported that Republicans, influenced by Trump, who demands the party reject a compromise on immigration, are succumbing.
On Jan. 31, in his first official address as Speaker, Johnson stated that the Senate agreement under discussion is not sufficient to prevent migrants from Mexico entering the US. He had previously hinted that he would not unblock aid to Ukraine, calling the Senate agreement “dead on arrival.”
On Feb. 5, the US Senate unveiled a $118 billion package, including $60 billion for Ukraine, $14 billion in aid to Israel, nearly $5 billion to allies in the Asia-Pacific region, $20 billion for strengthening immigration policy, and humanitarian aid to civilians in the Gaza Strip.
On Feb. 6, Joe Biden accused the 45th President of the United States, Donald Trump, of trying to intimidate Republicans in the House of Representatives and the Senate so that they would not vote for the bill on Ukraine.
On Feb. 7, the US Senate did not support consideration of a bipartisan package of border reforms, which includes aid for Ukraine and Israel. The corresponding draft law did not receive a sufficient number of votes during the procedural voting.
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