House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) will meet privately with President Biden and Congressional leaders at the White House on Wednesday afternoon to focus on border issues.
“We're not playing politics with this. We're demanding real, transformative policy change, and that's what the American people need and deserve,” Johnson told reporters Wednesday morning. , because the American people want the same.” “House Republicans are on that line, and I'm telling the president that today. I've said that consistently from the moment I was handed the speaker's gavel.”
Hours before the top bicameral government was scheduled to meet with Biden to discuss a national security package, Johnson spoke to reporters about the endgame and strategy for Ukraine, financial accountability, and concerns about Ukraine's ” He said he would like to see clarification on guarantees that the country will not become “a second Afghanistan.” ”
“So I'm going to push for those, but before I talk about Ukraine, I'm going to say to the president, and I'm going to say to you as well…borders, borders, borders,” Johnson said. “We have to take care of our own homes. We have to secure our borders before we talk about anything else.”
Biden invites key congressional leaders to 'important' meeting on additional national security spending
President Biden (left) and House Speaker Mike Johnson. (Getty Images)
After the Republican conference, Rep. Greg Murphy, R-N.C., told Fox News Digital that Johnson would either either implement the House version of border security passed last year or stop funding Ukraine. We’re getting pretty close.”
“Basically the bottom line is that Biden wants Ukraine to give him the money,” Murphy said. “And until we do something about borders, we’re not talking about this at all.”
In addition to Johnson, the meeting also included Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (New York), Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (New York). I plan to attend.
Biden first urged Congress to pass an additional package in October that would provide billions of dollars in aid. to ukraine, Israel and Taiwan. But the Senate also has other priorities this week. The goal is to avoid a partial government shutdown by Friday, when funding for some government agencies runs out.
Johnson issues ultimatum to Biden on Ukraine funding, immigration
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (left) meets with Speaker of the House of Representatives Mike Johnson to discuss additional support from Congress. (Courtesy of Chairman Mike Johnson's office)
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The proposed national security package includes $61.4 billion for Ukraine, $14.3 billion for Israel (with $10.6 billion earmarked for military aid), some border security provisions and Indo-Pacific security assistance. This includes a significant investment of $13.6 billion, for a total investment of approximately $7.4 billion. Additionally, $9 billion has been allocated for humanitarian assistance in Ukraine, Israel, and Gaza.
Last year, Senate Republicans wrench They planned to unanimously pass a supplementary bill linking aid from Ukraine and Israel, arguing that the two sides should be separated. But Republican lawmakers are now linking $60 billion in additional aid. to ukraine Changes to border security policy were a prerequisite for passage, despite Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's repeated appeals on Capitol Hill for continued support.
Since the Russian invasion in February 2022, the United States has reportedly sent more than $100 billion in security assistance to Ukraine.
