Biden supports ‘tough’ and ‘fair’ Senate border bill text

President Biden praised the bipartisan border agreement announced Sunday night and called on Congress to move quickly to pass the bill and bring it to the table for signature.

“Now, we have reached agreement on a bipartisan national security agreement that includes the toughest and fairest border reform in decades, and I strongly support it,” Biden said in a statement.

“I urge Congress to come together and quickly pass this bipartisan agreement. Bring it to my desk so I can sign it into law immediately,” Biden said.

Biden praised the work of the Senate and administration’s negotiators, saying they worked “around the clock” to reach an agreement. He is now looking to House Republicans to decide how to proceed.

“There is still much work to do to get us across the finish line. But let me be clear: whether you believe, as I do, that we must secure our borders now, “Doing nothing is not an option. Working with my administration, the U.S. Senate has made the necessary efforts to reach bipartisan agreement.”

“Now House Republicans have to make a decision. Do they want to solve the problem? Or do they want to continue playing border politics? I’ve made a decision. I’m not ready to solve the problem. We are ready to secure our borders. And so are the American people,” Biden wrote.

The 370-page border bill was finalized after months of negotiations led by Sens. James Lankford (R-Okla.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Kyrsten Sinema (Ariz.). It was done.

The agreement includes provisions to raise standards for asylum screening and process applications more quickly, ending the practice known as “catch and release” and ensuring border crossings reach set standards. New powers to close borders to large numbers of migrants.

The bill also includes additional funding for border issues, support for Israel and Ukraine, and other foreign policy priorities.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, R-New York, has promised to bring the bill to the floor this week, but the bill’s fate in the House remains uncertain, and Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Louisiana, previously said the bill would be on the floor. He said there was a possibility that “Dead on arrival.”