WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – President Joe Biden is making a plea to congressional leaders to send more aid to Ukraine and other allies.
The president’s request for new international aid has been stalled on Capitol Hill for weeks.
“We had a, productive meeting,” said House Speaker Mike Johnson.
Congress’s top leaders came out of a White House meeting hopeful about a future security package.
“It was a very good meeting and a very positive meeting. There was a large amount of agreement around the table that we must do Ukraine and we must do border,” said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.
President Biden is pushing Congress to pass a $110 billion aid package to support Ukraine, Israel and other allies but Speaker Mike Johnson says Republicans won’t vote for it without a deal on immigration reform.
“We understand that all these things are important, but we must insist, we must insist that the border be the top priority,” said Johnson.
Senators are working on a bipartisan immigration deal but even if they pass one, its future is uncertain in the Republican led House where many lawmakers are demanding a strict border crackdown.
Republican minority leader Mitch McConnell urged his colleagues to be open minded.
This is a unique opportunity to accomplish something under divided government,” said McConnell.
Schumer says to get a package passed House Republicans have to be willing to compromise.
“Any party that says do it my way or no way, we’re not going to get anything done.” >
The Biden administration says it’s urgent that lawmakers act quickly. As Ukrainian forces continue trying to fend off deadly Russian attacks.
“If we abandon Ukraine, there will be consequences,” said White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre.
The administration says right now there is no aid flowing to Ukraine because the funding for that has entirely run out.
