Schumer rejects Speaker Johnson’s call to add border reform to Ukraine bill

Fresh off his victory in passing a $60 billion bill for Ukraine in the Senate with 70 votes, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (New York) wasted no time in introducing the bill to Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana). Pressure was put on it to pass. Vote in the House of Commons.

He also rejected Johnson’s request for the Senate to accept tough border reforms to deal with the surge of migrants at the southern border.

“It’s up to the House to rise to this moment, do the right thing and save democracy as we know it,” Schumer said at a news conference hours after the vote ended.

Mr. Schumer said he wanted to speak directly to Mr. Johnson and urge him to introduce the bill to the House.

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“I would like to speak directly to Chairman Johnson. My message is that we are in a rare moment where history is looking at America and determining whether we will uphold our values ​​and stand up to these bullies. It’s about being a moment.” [Russian President Vladimir] “Putin, please do the right thing,” he said.

“I say to Chairman Johnson, I am confident that there is a majority in the House that will vote for this bill. There are many Republicans in his caucus who feel strongly that this bill should pass. I am confident.” “I urge Speaker Johnson to rise up to this moment and do the right thing.”

Schumer emphasized that the bill received 22 Republican votes in the Senate.

And he brushed aside Johnson’s demand that Democrats agree to additional language to tighten border security as the number of migrants surged to an average of 10,000 a day in December.

“The bottom line is that this bill passed with an overwhelming majority. We need to get aid to Ukraine quickly. We cannot afford to delay for another three or four months. The quickest and best way is to pass the Senate bill.”

He asserted that Democrats are “ready to take many steps in the direction of strong, tough border legislation,” including Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Sen. James Lankford (R-Conn.). , Oklahoma). He received support from the National Border Patrol Council, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Wall Street Journal.

“Unfortunately, too many Republicans have capitulated to the Donald Trump administration,” he said, referring to the Republican pushback against the bill after Trump urged the bipartisan agreement to be rejected.

Mr. Schumer also rejected Mr. Trump’s offer to provide aid to Ukraine in the form of a loan.

“Look, the House should pass our bill,” he said. “We should stick with this bill. No one even knows how this loan program works. Just because Donald Trump said something off the top of his head doesn’t mean Republicans are going to act in lockstep.” Not that you need to.”