Chamber of Commerce calls for immediate passage of border bill

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce on Monday called on Congress to pass a bipartisan agreement on immigration and defense after negotiators released a long-awaited agreement on border security and funding between Ukraine and Israel.

“The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is pleased that the U.S. Senate’s emergency funding proposal includes much-needed border security, asylum, and immigration reform,” said Chamber Executive Vice President and Chief Policy Officer. Director Neil Bradley said. In a statement.

“The economic disruption and human toll of the border crisis is deepening, and Congress can no longer afford to ignore these issues,” Bradley continued. “We look forward to working with lawmakers to pass common-sense measures that improve U.S. security by addressing issues at our southern border and supporting Ukraine and Israel.”

The $118 billion deal includes about $60 billion to support Ukraine during its nearly two-year war with Russia, as well as $20 billion in border funding, $14 billion in security assistance to Israel and $100 billion in humanitarian assistance. Contains billions of dollars.

The support from the business lobbying giant comes as the deal faces opposition from hardline conservatives and allies of former President Trump.

Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) declared the agreement “null and void on arrival” in the House shortly after the 370-page bill was announced Sunday night.

“I’ve seen enough,” Johnson said in a post on X (formerly Twitter). “This bill is even worse than we expected and far from ending the border disaster the president has wrought. As the Democratic chief negotiator declared, under this bill, “the border will never be closed.” It won’t close.”

House Minority Leader Steve Scalise (R-Louisiana) similarly clarified that the bill would not be voted on in the House, and House Republican Conference Chair Elise Stefanik (R-New York) called the deal “absolutely unacceptable.” “Start,” he criticized.

President Trump also weighed in on the newly unveiled text of the bill on Monday, dismissing it as a “great gift to Democrats” and a “death wish to Republicans.”

“We’re going to take the terrible job Democrats have done on immigration and the border, pardon them, and put everything squarely on the shoulders of Republicans,” the former president said in a post on Truth Social.