Aid of 60 billion dollars package for Ukraine which provides about $300 million to strengthen the nation’s border, has struck a chord with several lawmakers increasingly frustrated with the administration’s handling of the crisis at the U.S. southern border.
Saturday, the House of Representatives approved spending $60 billion to help Ukraine strengthen its defense against Russian invasion, by a vote of 311 to 112. Republicans were not unanimous in their approval of the measure, with 101 voting for aid plan and 112 votes against.
President Johnson, R-La., unveiled the foreign aid plan earlier in the week, although the lack of border security measures has made allies wary of letting the bills move forward.
A meeting to advance the package ended Wednesday night without a vote because it included funding for Ukraine and not U.S. border security.
HOUSE PASSES $60 BILLION UKRAINE AID BILL AS GOP REBELS THREATEN OUST JOHNSON
A group of more than 100 migrants attempting to enter the United States illegally rush against a border wall on Thursday, March 21, 2024. In the process, the migrants overturn Texas National Guardsmen before being stopped by the border wall . (James Breeden for the New York Post/Mega)
One of these Republican foreign aid hawks Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, was on the House Rules Committee. The House Rules Committee is the final hurdle before a bill comes to the House for a vote.
After the vote, Roy and others took to social media platform X to express their dissatisfaction with the foreign aid program.
“Today I voted no… These bills were introduced as part of an artificial process aimed at achieving a predetermined outcome: a $100 billion, unpaid, unpaid foreign aid package. succeed in securing the border,” Roy wrote. “For months, House Republicans, particularly Speaker Mike Johnson, have been unequivocal that we will not send billions in additional aid to Ukraine without first securing our own border. package represents a complete reversal of a position that previously unified the Republican conference, despite the clear and present danger that the southern border poses to United States national security.”
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Roy said he supported Ukraine’s efforts to defeat Putin, but added that he could not support sending $60 billion in additional funding without the United States having a “clear mission.” and “necessary policy changes” to achieve this. secure your own border.
Like Roy, Rep. Ben Cline, Republican of Virginia, voted against the package because of the “urgent issues” facing the United States.
“States and cities across our country are grappling with the consequences of Biden’s border crisis, inflation continues to squeeze the budgets of every American household, and our country is more than $34 trillion in debt” , Cline said. “As I continue to fight for the people of Virginia’s Sixth District, I urge my colleagues in Congress and the Biden Administration to listen to the American people and prioritize their concerns.”
Rep. Eric Burlison, a member of the House Freedom Caucus, also spoke.
“Republicans control the House and we should leverage that to secure our border. Unfortunately, the United Party is working to secure Ukraine’s borders instead of our own border,” he said. “This needs to stop, we should put AMERICA first!”
Burlison, Cline and Roy could not be reached for comment on the matter.
According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection sources, there were more than 7,000 encounters at the southern border on Friday, following two straight days of around 6,500 people. In previous weeks, the number of encounters was between 4,000 and 5,000.
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“We are beyond disappointed that the House has provided aid to secure foreign borders but has done nothing to enable the Border Patrol to keep the United States safe,” Brandon Judd told Fox News , chairman of the National Border Patrol Council. . “There’s nothing further back. I didn’t even expect the taxpayers’ money. They could have given us a policy, and that would have been enough.”
Elizabeth Elkind and Bill Melugin of Fox News Digital contributed to this report.
