US Senators Work to Salvage Aid for Ukraine and Israel After Failed Border Bill Vote

In a recent development, US lawmakers are making efforts to salvage a military aid package for Ukraine and Israel after a major piece of legislation was voted down in the Senate. The failed bipartisan legislation aimed to tie tougher border restrictions with aid to Ukraine and Israel. However, the bill faced strong opposition after former President Donald Trump urged Republicans to block it. While Republicans claim that the immigration reforms included in the bill do not go far enough, some Democrats believe that they go too far.

Despite the setback, senators are now working to create a new version of the legislation that addresses the concerns of both parties. Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has proposed a back-up bill that removes the immigration measures but retains the foreign aid. This $96 billion package includes $60 billion of support for Ukraine, $14.1 billion in security assistance for Israel, and $9.15 billion in humanitarian aid for both Israel and Ukraine. Additionally, $2.44 billion has been designated to support US operations in the Red Sea, while $4.83 billion will be allotted to support US allies in the Pacific and deter aggression by the Chinese government.

Negotiations are currently underway to determine the next steps for the revised bill, although no vote has been scheduled yet. Republicans are reportedly discussing the addition of border-related amendments to this version of the bill. The original bipartisan border deal failed in the Senate with a vote of 50-49. This $118 billion package included approximately $20 billion of funding for the US-Mexico border.

One of the noteworthy features of the 370-page deal was the introduction of a new federal authority that mandated a complete border shutdown once the number of migrants reached a certain threshold. Under this provision, migrants who arrived in the US illegally after the threshold had been reached would no longer be eligible to request asylum and would be deported promptly. However, Republicans rejected the measure, asserting that the border reforms did not go far enough.

Immigration has emerged as a top issue motivating Republicans to support former President Trump, who is currently the front-runner to face President Joe Biden in the November general election. Trump passionately urged his party to reject the deal, resulting in almost all Republican Senators voting against it. Even Republican Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell, who previously supported and participated in negotiations over the bill, reversed his position and voted ‘no’, stating that the bill “has no real chance of becoming law.” Other senior Republicans in the chamber, including John Cornyn, John Thune, and John Barrasso, also voted against the bill. Only four Republicans supported the measure, one of whom was lead negotiator James Lankford.

Several Democrats, such as Elizabeth Warren, Alex Padilla, and Bob Menendez, also voted against the bill due to disagreements with its border reforms. During a private fundraiser in New York, President Biden expressed disbelief at the result, claiming that Democrats had made significant concessions regarding the border. He argued that Republicans were abandoning their support because of pressure from Donald Trump.

The military aid provided by the US to Ukraine has been on hold since December as Congress has been unable to reach an agreement to send additional aid. Republicans had previously stated that they would only support more aid for Ukraine if additional measures were implemented to address the border crisis. This was the motivation behind the now-rejected bipartisan bill.

Despite the obstacles, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan has reassured that the US “can and will” provide the necessary aid to Ukraine. He acknowledged the challenges faced in Congress but highlighted that a significant number of Republicans have expressed the need to move forward with a package of support for Ukraine.

This ongoing situation demonstrates the complexities and divisions within the US political landscape. The fate of the aid package for Ukraine and Israel hangs in the balance as senators continue their negotiations and seek common ground that satisfies both parties. The outcome of these discussions will determine the level of support provided to these nations, which could impact their war efforts, public finances, and stability in the region. It remains to be seen how the revised bill will fare and whether it will gain the necessary support to become law.