Sen. Joe Manchin (D-Va., left) and Sen. Shelley Moore Capito stand during the Capitol Christmas tree lighting ceremony on the West Front of the Capitol on Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2023 in Washington. Congressman (Republican, Virginia). . (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
CHARLESTON – A bill providing much-needed funding to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan passed the U.S. Senate early Tuesday with the support of West Virginia’s two senators, but has already passed the U.S. Senate, including that state’s legislature. It has hit a roadblock in the House of Commons. two members of parliament.
The Senate passed the $95.3 billion national security supplement bill by a 70-29 vote after hours of debate, speeches, and a filibuster. The package includes more than $60 billion for Ukraine, which is resisting Russian aggression, and more than $14 billion for Israel, which is fighting to eliminate Hamas, which attacked last fall. The supplement also includes military aid to Taiwan.
Sens. Joe Manchin and Shelley Moore Capito voted in favor of the national security supplement bill, which also includes funding for munitions and weapons replenishment. Manchin and Capito said in a statement Tuesday morning that the bill is an important sign to international allies that the United States stands by them.
“As a world superpower, we cannot afford to abandon our allies,” said Manchin, Democrat of Virginia. “The U.S. Senate's bipartisan national security policy advances America's interests both on the world stage and here at home…I am voting for peace and stability to triumph over tyranny and authoritarianism. I am proud and urge my colleagues in the House to adopt and pass this bipartisan package as soon as possible. ”
“The national security supplement we passed today will restore America's deterrence and provide our nation with the resources to resolve in the face of growing threats and President (Joe) Biden's weakness.” Virginia Capito said. “I am introducing a national security supplement that will provide security assistance to our allies and partners facing aggression and provide solutions to the national security challenges we face here at home. I have steadfastly supported it.”
The bill originally included $20.2 billion in border security funding for the U.S.-Mexico border, as well as additional border security provisions, closing the border if illegal immigrants reach certain thresholds and increasing border security. It also included powers that the president could exercise according to instructions from Congress. Asylum rules, hiring of additional border personnel, and other provisions.
Supplementing national security with border funding and border regulations was part of bipartisan negotiations and had support from the White House. But under pressure from former Republican President Donald Trump, Senate Republicans began backing away from comprehensive policies that included Capito. Attempts to bring the entire bill to a vote failed, and the border provisions were removed from the bill.
“We also wanted a border component as part of this supplement. However, because of the tremendous concerns that Republicans and the people of West Virginia expressed to me, I voted against advancing that bill,” Capito said. he said. “I had hoped for an amendment process that would allow the Senate to debate and vote on border security amendments. Unfortunately, the obstructionists prohibited that from happening.”
Mr. Capito and Mr. Manchin said they would continue negotiations toward a standalone border security package. Manchin supported the original supplement on border funding and provisions, saying lawmakers did the nation a disservice by rejecting the previous package.
“We are pleased that the Senate came together to pass a bipartisan aid bill to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, but omitted essential provisions that would have closed the southern border and sent a clear message to the world. I'm very sorry for what they're doing. If you're in the country illegally, you're going to be sent home,” Manchin said. “We owe it to the 18,000 men and women of the Border Patrol union to continue working to pass this bill, and that’s exactly what I intend to do.”
The National Security Supplementary Bill is currently before the House of Representatives, but its future is less uncertain. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) suggested in a statement Monday that the House may not even consider the bill in its current form. Last week, Johnson said he needed to include stronger border enforcement provisions in any bill, after he said the original border provisions in the Senate's National Security Supplement were too weak.
“House Republicans have been clear from the beginning of the debate that the so-called National Security Supplement Act must recognize that national security begins at the border,” Johnson said. “The Senate did the right thing last week by rejecting the Ukraine-Taiwan-Gaza-Israel-Immigration Act because its border provisions were insufficient. The bill should have gone back to square one.”
“Speaker Johnson has made it clear that the House will not take up this supplement until the southern border is secure, and I fully support that decision,” said Rep. Carol Miller (R-Va.). Stated. “I urge the Senate and White House to work with House Republicans to develop meaningful solutions to resolve the border crisis. My constituents are concerned about the southern border, and that is my focus. is.”
Rep. Alex Mooney (R-Va.) said in a statement Tuesday that the Senate should consider the Secure Borders Act passed by the House last year. The bill includes funding to continue construction of the border wall, further restrict asylum eligibility, and reinstate the Remain in Mexico policy, which requires asylum seekers to remain on the Mexican side of the border.
“National security begins at the border,” Mooney said. “The United States cannot continue to send billions of dollars to foreign countries without doing anything to protect our overrun southern border. The House passed the strongest border security bill in history. The Senate passed the strongest border security bill in history. Voting on the Secure Borders Act should be a priority before considering adding more national debt.”
It's also unclear whether the slim Republican majority in the House would support additional funding for Ukraine, which has been hostile for nearly two years to continuing funding for the fight against Russia's invasion of Ukraine. . The House failed to pass a standalone funding bill for Israel last week. President Trump recently announced that he opposes additional aid to Ukraine unless it comes in the form of a loan.
