Senate presents US$118 billion bipartisan bill on border security and aid to Ukraine and Israel

Capitol building. Photo: free sources

On February 4, the U.S. Senate unveiled a $118 billion bipartisan border security bill that would also provide aid to Ukraine and Israel, but it promptly slammed into opposition from the House of Representatives.

The Senate is to vote for the bill until February 7.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer called the legislation “a monumental step towards strengthening America’s national security abroad and along our borders.” However, it’s already obvious the bill will not have support in the House of Representatives.

“This bill is even worse than we expected, and won’t come close to ending the border catastrophe the President has created. If this bill reaches the House, it will be dead on arrival,” Speaker Johnson said on X .

Before the Senate revealed the $110 billion compromise deal, Johnson had already claimed the House would vote for a separate package to support Israel only with $17.6 billion in aid.

“Given the Senate’s failure to move appropriate legislation in a timely fashion, and the perilous circumstances currently facing Israel, the House will continue to lead. Next week. we will take up and pass a clean, standalone Israel supplemental package,” wrote Mike Johnson in his letter addressed to “Friends”.

Joe Biden welcomed the deal and urged the Congress to swiftly pass the bill.

“Now we’ve reached an agreement on a bipartisan national security deal that includes the toughest and fairest set of border reforms in decades. I strongly support it,” stated the US President.

Read also: If the United States does not provide assistance to Ukraine, it will lose the last – the third line of defense and leadership positions – diplomat