Senators from both parties are urging President Biden and Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) to play a more proactive role in the negotiations concerning a funding package for Ukraine and Israel, along with measures to secure the U.S.-Mexico border. This appeal comes on the heels of a unanimous vote by GOP senators on Wednesday to block the advancement of the $110 billion bill.
The fate of Biden’s appeal for military aid to Ukraine and Israel, humanitarian assistance for Gaza, and funding to secure the southern border is now in significant jeopardy. Talks regarding border security have hit an impasse, raising concerns about the overall viability of the proposed package.
Senator James Lankford of Oklahoma, the lead Republican negotiator, presented a proposal that Democrats argue closely resembled the provisions in the House-passed Secure the Border Act, a proposition dismissed by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer as a non-starter.
In an effort to break the impasse on Wednesday, Schumer offered Republicans the opportunity to present the first amendment to the foreign aid package, allowing them to propose any border security reforms they believe could secure 60 votes on the Senate floor. However, GOP senators rejected this offer.
With only two work weeks remaining before Christmas, there’s a growing acknowledgment among senators that it is becoming increasingly unlikely for Congress to pass new funding for Ukraine this year. Some are now urging President Biden and Senator McConnell, known for their history of negotiating major deals, to become more directly involved in the process. Senators from both
Senator Michael Bennet of Colorado stated, “I think it would be very helpful to have the White House as part of this negotiation. In the wake of this failed vote, it’s an appropriate time.” Bennet pointed to past instances where Biden and McConnell successfully collaborated on major deals, such as averting the fiscal cliff in 2012 and addressing the expiring Bush-era tax cuts. McConnell also worked with Biden to prevent a national default in 2011 and temporarily extend the Bush tax cuts after the 2010 midterm election.