BREAKING: Republicans Block Senate Border Bill As Foreign Aid Hangs In The Balance

The legislation, which was crafted by Sen. James Lankford (R-OK), Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT), and Sen. Kristen Sinema (I-AZ) and revealed on Sunday, has been blasted for being weak on securing the southern border, giving incentives for additional migration, and providing additional funding for the war in Ukraine.

The Republicans who voted in favor of the legislation and joined with Democrats include Sens. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), James Lankford (R-OK), Susan Collins (R-ME), and Mitt Romney (R-UT). Several Democrats also voted against the bill's advancment including Sens. Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA). 

The $118 billion legislative package contributes nearly three times as much money to the war in Ukraine as to the southern border. According to the Senate bill, Ukraine would receive $60.1 billion, funding for border security would constitute $20.2 billion, Israel would receive $14.1 billion in aid, Gaza would receive $10 billion in aid, the Indo-Pacific would receive $4.8 billion in funding, and American assets in the Middle East would receive $2.4 billion in funding to counteract the Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping.

Even if the legislation was able to get past the Senate, GOP House leadership have sworn to block it in the in lower chamber. "I've seen enough. This bill is even worse than we expected and won't come close to ending the border catastrophe the President has created," Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA) wrote. "As the lead Democrat negotiator proclaimed: Under this legislation, 'the border never closes.' If this bill reaches the House, it will be dead on arrival."

"Let me be clear: The Senate Border Bill will NOT receive a vote in the House," House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) wrote. "Here's what the people pushing this "deal" aren't telling you: It accepts 5,000 illegal immigrants a day and gives automatic work permits to asylum recipients—a magnet for more illegal immigration."

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