TTT Reporting
Dec 8, 2023
A $106 billion dollar aid package was proposed to support the war efforts of Israel in the Middle East and Ukraine in Eastern Europe. However, Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy announced that he, along with several other Republican members, will not vote to support the package unless President Biden’s administration agrees to modify certain policies to better secure the U.S. southern border.
In a conference held on Tuesday, Cassidy announced that the republican party was “united in wanting to see something done to secure the southern border” and that they “won’t vote for a deal that doesn’t work to secure the border.” Newly appointed Speaker Mike Johnson also sent a letter to the White House earlier this week stating that “transformative” border changes would need to be completed before any aid would be approved.
On Monday, Shalanda Young, Budget Director from the Office of Management, warned many congressional leaders that the U.S. was “out of money and nearly out of time” to send assistance to Ukraine in its war against Russia. This warning has sparked many concerns over when or if the U.S. would be able to approve aid and support both the Ukraine and Israel as their wars continue.
Cassidy has made it known that Biden’s continued denial of the border crisis was damaging the U.S. Though Cassidy isn’t included in the Senate negotiations regarding the supplemental national security package, he stated that Biden’s “denial of the border crisis has led to 8.3 million illegal border crossings since he took office. The American people want to end this chaos. The Biden administration is waving people through.”
Cassidy suggested that river barriers should be implemented to hamper boat access across the border. “A river barrier can be deployed quickly” and would be a positive first step to solving the issue. He also has supported the restricting of migrants’ ability to seek asylum in the U.S.
However, Democrats have deemed that the reforms suggested to solve the migrant crisis at the southern border are too “extreme”. In a meeting held recently between the Democratic Party and the GOP regarding modifications to the asylum system and border security concluded with Republicans refusing to compromise.
“Our security cannot come second to that of other countries around the world, our allies, even those like Ukraine and Israel.” Said Texas Republican John Cornyn during a speech on the Senate floor. Andriy Yermak, top aid to Ukrainian President Zelenskyy, thanked the American government and citizens for their support thus far but added that more aid was needed in order to secure a victory over Russia and protect Democracy.
Senate Majority leader Chuck Schumer stated, “We can’t ever put a price on defending democracy in its hour of need, because if Ukraine falls, Putin will keep on going. Autocrats around the world will be emboldened. Democracy, this grand and noble experiment, will enter an era of decline.”