Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) affirms that Ukraine aid will not be separated from border funding as Congress looks for a way forward after a shutdown bill excluded Ukraine. Graham stated on CBS News’s “Face The Nation” that fixing the border and helping Ukraine are both essential, dismissing the idea that it should be one or the other.
Graham predicts that Ukraine aid will not be passed as a standalone bill and he believes the majority of Senate Republicans would support a combination of border security, Ukraine funding, and disaster aid. He emphasizes the need to address asylum, increase border security agents, and provide more detention beds. Graham asserts that attaching Ukraine aid to the border issue is crucial.
Meanwhile, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) proposed a bill to keep the government open without funding for Ukraine, despite a Senate bill that included Ukraine aid moving forward. McCarthy argued that Ukraine aid should not be part of a temporary measure, and there are Republicans in the House who oppose it.
Despite concerns that the lack of support for Ukraine could be seen as a victory for Russian President Vladimir Putin, the Senate ultimately agreed to the House-approved move. McCarthy, in an earlier interview on CBS News, stated that he is committed to helping Ukraine but considers addressing the border crisis a higher priority.
Graham acknowledges McCarthy’s stance and supports the demand to address the border crisis before providing aid to Ukraine. He expressed confidence in the Senate’s ability to pass a strong border security measure while advocating for a significantly higher amount of Ukraine funding for the next year, surpassing the White House’s requested amount. Graham justifies the higher funding by pointing out that the US has not lost any soldiers in the Ukraine war and that the Ukrainian forces have inflicted significant damage on the Russian army.
In conclusion, it seems that Ukraine aid will be contingent upon addressing the border crisis, as Sen. Graham supports attaching the two issues. The debate continues as Congress seeks a resolution that balances the needs of both border security and international assistance.