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House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., plans to focus on the border throughout a closed-door meeting with President Biden and congressional leaders on the White House Wednesday afternoon.
“We’re not playing politics with this, we’re demanding real, transformative policy change, because that’s what the American people need and deserve, and that they’re demanding as well,” Johnson advised reporters Wednesday morning. “House Republicans are standing on that line. I will tell the president that today —I’ve been saying it consistently since the moment I was handed the speaker’s gavel.”
Johnson advised reporters, simply hours earlier than prime bicameral leaders plan to fulfill with Biden to debate the national security supplemental package, that he will ask for readability on Ukraine’s endgame and technique, accountability for funds, and assurance that Ukraine “will not be another Afghanistan.”
“So, I’m going to push for those, but before we even talk about Ukraine, I’m going to tell the president, and I’m telling all of you… border, border, border,” Johnson stated. “We have to take care of our own house. We have to secure our own border before we talk about doing anything else.”
After the GOP convention meeting, Rep. Greg Murphy, R-N.C., advised Fox News Digital that Johnson was “pretty close” to saying it was both the House’s model of border security that was handed final yr, or no extra Ukraine funding.
“Basically, the bottom line is Biden wants Ukraine to be funded,” Murphy stated. “And we’re not talking about it at all until we do something about the border.”
Alongside Johnson, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., are anticipated to be in attendance on the meeting.
Biden first requested Congress to cross the supplemental package in October, which might unlock billions in help to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan. However, this week, the Senate additionally has one other precedence: averting a partial authorities shutdown by Friday when funding runs out for some companies.
SPEAKER JOHNSON GIVES BIDEN AN ULTIMATUM ON UKRAINE FUNDING, IMMIGRATION
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The proposed national security package contains $61.4 billion for Ukraine, $14.3 billion for Israel (with $10.6 billion allotted for army help), $13.6 billion for some border security provisions and vital investments in Indo-Pacific security help, totaling round $7.4 billion. Additionally, there’s $9 billion earmarked for humanitarian help in Ukraine, Israel and Gaza.
Last yr, Senate GOP lawmakers threw a wrench in plans to unanimously cross a supplemental that ties Ukraine and Israel help collectively and argued they need to be separate. However, Republican lawmakers have now linked the $60 billion further help to Ukraine with modifications in border security insurance policies as a prerequisite for its passage, regardless of Ukraine President Volodymr Zelenskyy making a number of pleas on Capitol Hill for continued help.
The U.S. has reportedly despatched greater than $100 billion in security help to Ukraine since Russia invaded in February 2022.
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