As existing border security and foreign aid bills are stalled due to the reluctance of factions within the Republican party, a bipartisan group of House Representatives has introduced a new package they hope can make it through the finish line."
The bill, called the 'Defending Borders, Defending Democracies Act,' would allocate a total of $66.3 billion to defense-only aid for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, as well as funds to improve security at the U.S. southern border.
"Securing one's borders is necessary to preserving one's democracy and, therefore, necessary to maintaining world order and world peace," Republican Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania said in a press release following the unveiling of the proposal. "There are plenty of us that are not going to allow Ukraine to fail on our watch. It's too existential," he added.
The staunchest opposition to pass any measures has so far come from a faction led by House Speaker Mike Johnson. Fitzpatrick told ABC that he's going to try and meet Johnson and "hopefully win this support."
Congressional negotiations are currently at a stalemate, following Republicans' rejection of a bipartisan package negotiated by leading senators and which included roughly $15 billion for border security measures.
Republicans' opposition to it grew after likely presidential candidate Donald Trump blasted the deal, saying it was not tough enough. Democrats have fiercely criticized Trump since and gone on the offense on the issue, saying Republicans are not willing to work to address the issue.
At the same time, they voted on a bill that removed the border section, seeking to pass it and send wartime aid to Israel and Ukraine, the latter already struggling to stand to Russia amid dwindling supplies.
The bill was passed by the Senate, but it's already facing challenges in the House as the faction led by Johnson is speaking against it. Johnson put the skepticism in words, sharply criticizing the bill and saying it didn't have border security provisions, therefore being "silent on the most pressing issue facing our country." He added that it could be weeks of months before the House votes on the bill, if that happens at all.
The bill includes some $60 billion for Ukraine, $14 billion for Israel in its war against Hamas, $9.2 billion in humanitarian assistance for Gaza and $8 billion for Taiwan.
It is not likely there will be any news about these issues, as the House is in the middle nearly-two week recess and is scheduled to return to session on February 28.
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