Schumer thinks Ukraine bill, stripped of border deal, will get enough votes to advance later today
From CNN's Ted Barrett and Kristin Wilson
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said he thinks a national security supplemental spending bill — stripped of border policy changes opposed by GOP senators — will get enough bipartisan support to get at least 60 votes, the number it needs to succeed on a roll call vote planned for later Wednesday.
"Yes," he told reporters in the Capitol when asked if the thought that measure would get enough votes to advance.
Remember: The bill, which will still need to be debated and voted on in the coming days, has desperately needed money for Ukraine as well as funds for Israel, Taiwan, and civilians in Gaza. Before that vote, the Senate will vote on the original foreign aid bill with the border provisions still in it. But most Republicans are expected to vote against that bill, blocking its path.
Speaking at news conference later, Schumer chided Republicans for having demanded border policy changes be part of the foreign aid bill than walking away from a bipartisan compromise. Schumer also addressed the bill's unclear future in the GOP-led House.
"The majority of Republicans in the House said they want to do Ukraine, they want to do Israel. And we hope that if we pass it in the Senate, that the House would then rise to the occasion. The House is in chaos. It doesn't behoove the Speaker well to block everything because 30 hard rightwing people just want chaos like Donald Trump," he said.
6 min ago
Key highlights of the proposed border deal package
From CNN's Priscilla Alvarez and Lauren Fox
The Senate’s border deal and foreign aid package would implement strict limits along the US southern border that have not been previously enshrined into law and would, in effect, severely curtail asylum-seeking at that border — a break from decades-long protocol.
If passed, the bill would dramatically change immigration law for the first time in decades.
Here are the key changes in the bill:
A new emergency authority to restrict border crossings if daily average migrant encounters reach 4,000 over a one-week span. If that metric is reached, the Homeland Security secretary could decide to largely bar migrants from seeking asylum if they crossed the border unlawfully. If migrant crossings increase above 5,000 on average per day in a given week, DHS is required to use the authority. If encounters reach 8,500 in one day, the department is required to trigger the authority. But the federal government is limited in how long it can use the authority.
Codifies a policy that requires the government to process at least 1,400 asylum applications at ports of entry when the emergency authority is triggered.
Raises the legal standard of proof to pass the initial screening for asylum, making it potentially more difficult for asylum seekers to pass.
Expedites the asylum processing timeline from years to six months.
Introduces a new process in which US Citizenship and Immigration Services would decide an asylum claim without it going through the immigration court system. The process doesn’t apply to unaccompanied migrant children.
Jeffries takes victory lap after failed Mayorkas impeachment vote
From CNN's Haley Talbot and Kristin Wilson
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries talks to reporters during a news conference at the US Capitol on Wednesday in Washington, DC. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries unloaded on House Republicans Wednesday for their “chaotic, dysfunctional and extreme” positions, but also enjoyed the victory lap Democrats are taking following Tuesday night’s plot-twisting vote that failed to impeach impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.
Three Republicans, Colorado Rep. Ken Buck, Wisconsin Rep. Mike Gallagher and California Rep. Tom McClintock, joined the Democrats in voting against the resolution. GOP Rep. Blake Moore joined the “no” side to allow the House GOP to bring up the vote again. Even though House Republicans suffered a massive defeat and failed to impeach Mayorkas on Tuesday, GOP leadership said they plan to bring up the vote again.
“What does the impeachment of Secretary Mayorkas have to do with fixing our broken immigration system and addressing the challenges at the border? Absolutely nothing,” he said during his weekly press conference.
Jeffries batted away questions of whether Democratic leadership shared with GOP leadership how many members they’d have present for the Mayorkas vote, when Texas Democratic Rep. Al Green cast a vote that few — particularly GOP leaders — were expecting.
"It's not our responsibility to let House Republicans know which members will or will not be present on the House floor," Jeffries said.
Green had been away from the chamber following surgery last week, but arrived from the hospital and cast the vote that doomed the impeachment resolution.
45 min ago
Here's what's in the foreign aid package
From CNN's Clare Foran, Lauren Fox, Ted Barrett, Priscilla Alvarez and Kristin Wilson
The sweeping $118.2 billion legislative package would provide aid to key US allies abroad, including billions of dollars to support Ukraine in its fight against Russia and security aid for Israel, as well as humanitarian assistance for civilians in Gaza, the West Bank and Ukraine.
According to the Senate Committee on Appropriations, the bill includes roughly $60 billion to support Ukraine in its war against Russia, $14.1 billion in security assistance for Israel, and $20.23 billion for operational needs and capabilities at the border and to provide resources for the new border policies — an amount that rises above the $14 billion Biden initially requested for border security.
The package also includes billions of dollars for regional partners in the Indo-Pacific.
If Congress is unable to pass the package, senators will have to decide whether to try to pass aid to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan separately from border and immigration measures.
It’s unclear whether a foreign aid package would be able to pass on its own as many Senate Republicans have demanded tighter border security in exchange for aid to those allies.
Key things to know about today's Senate vote on the border deal and foreign aid package
From CNN's Clare Foran, Ted Barrett, Morgan Rimmer and Manu Raju
The US Capitol in January. Samuel Corum/Getty Images
Senate Republicans are expected to tanka major bipartisan border deal and foreign aid package with assistance for Ukraine and Israel in a vote on Wednesday amid a torrent of attacks on the bill by former President Donald Trump and top House Republicans.
Why this matters: A failed vote will amount to a stunning rebuke by Senate Republicans of a deal that would have enacted restrictive border measures and was crafted in part by one of their own members – James Lankford of Oklahoma, one of the chamber’s most conservative senators. Republicans had demanded that border security be part of the bill, but are now rejecting the deal after pressure from Trump, who is making the border a central campaign issue in his race for the White House.
The expected outcome is poised to leave aid for Ukraine and Israel, two key US allies, in jeopardy at a critical time. In the aftermath of the vote, lawmakers will face increasing pressure to pass foreign aid on its own without any border provisions – an uncertain prospect as some Republicans are opposed to further aid to Ukraine.
The Senate is set to hold an initial procedural vote on Wednesday that would require 60 votes for the bill to advance. There are expected to be defections on both sides of the aisle, butthere has been a flood of GOP opposition to the deal in the wake of its release on Sunday evening.
If Republicans block the larger package as expected, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer plans to force a procedural vote on an emergency aid package for Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan — and drop the new border deal — according to a Democratic aide.
The bill is on track to fail, as GOP infighting threatens to steamroll any congressional response to the border as well as put aid to Ukraine and Israel in jeopardy. Many Republicans have attacked the policy directly, and some have argued there should be more time to consider, debate, and amend the bill after it was released on Sunday. President Joe Biden on Tuesday blamed former President Donald Trump, saying he had derailed a painstakingly negotiated bill.
The vote comes a day after the House failed to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, a stunning blow to House Republicans who had pushed the effort as a key political goal.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said he thinks a national security supplemental spending bill — stripped of border policy changes opposed by GOP senators — will get enough bipartisan support to get at least 60 votes, the number it needs to succeed on a roll call vote planned for later Wednesday.
"Yes," he told reporters in the Capitol when asked if the thought that measure would get enough votes to advance.
Remember: The bill, which will still need to be debated and voted on in the coming days, has desperately needed money for Ukraine as well as funds for Israel, Taiwan, and civilians in Gaza. Before that vote, the Senate will vote on the original foreign aid bill with the border provisions still in it. But most Republicans are expected to vote against that bill, blocking its path.
Speaking at news conference later, Schumer chided Republicans for having demanded border policy changes be part of the foreign aid bill than walking away from a bipartisan compromise. Schumer also addressed the bill's unclear future in the GOP-led House.
"The majority of Republicans in the House said they want to do Ukraine, they want to do Israel. And we hope that if we pass it in the Senate, that the House would then rise to the occasion. The House is in chaos. It doesn't behoove the Speaker well to block everything because 30 hard rightwing people just want chaos like Donald Trump," he said.
The Senate’s border deal and foreign aid package would implement strict limits along the US southern border that have not been previously enshrined into law and would, in effect, severely curtail asylum-seeking at that border — a break from decades-long protocol.
If passed, the bill would dramatically change immigration law for the first time in decades.
Here are the key changes in the bill:
A new emergency authority to restrict border crossings if daily average migrant encounters reach 4,000 over a one-week span. If that metric is reached, the Homeland Security secretary could decide to largely bar migrants from seeking asylum if they crossed the border unlawfully. If migrant crossings increase above 5,000 on average per day in a given week, DHS is required to use the authority. If encounters reach 8,500 in one day, the department is required to trigger the authority. But the federal government is limited in how long it can use the authority.
Codifies a policy that requires the government to process at least 1,400 asylum applications at ports of entry when the emergency authority is triggered.
Raises the legal standard of proof to pass the initial screening for asylum, making it potentially more difficult for asylum seekers to pass.
Expedites the asylum processing timeline from years to six months.
Introduces a new process in which US Citizenship and Immigration Services would decide an asylum claim without it going through the immigration court system. The process doesn’t apply to unaccompanied migrant children.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries talks to reporters during a news conference at the US Capitol on Wednesday in Washington, DC. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries unloaded on House Republicans Wednesday for their “chaotic, dysfunctional and extreme” positions, but also enjoyed the victory lap Democrats are taking following Tuesday night’s plot-twisting vote that failed to impeach impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.
Three Republicans, Colorado Rep. Ken Buck, Wisconsin Rep. Mike Gallagher and California Rep. Tom McClintock, joined the Democrats in voting against the resolution. GOP Rep. Blake Moore joined the “no” side to allow the House GOP to bring up the vote again. Even though House Republicans suffered a massive defeat and failed to impeach Mayorkas on Tuesday, GOP leadership said they plan to bring up the vote again.
“What does the impeachment of Secretary Mayorkas have to do with fixing our broken immigration system and addressing the challenges at the border? Absolutely nothing,” he said during his weekly press conference.
Jeffries batted away questions of whether Democratic leadership shared with GOP leadership how many members they’d have present for the Mayorkas vote, when Texas Democratic Rep. Al Green cast a vote that few — particularly GOP leaders — were expecting.
"It's not our responsibility to let House Republicans know which members will or will not be present on the House floor," Jeffries said.
Green had been away from the chamber following surgery last week, but arrived from the hospital and cast the vote that doomed the impeachment resolution.
The sweeping $118.2 billion legislative package would provide aid to key US allies abroad, including billions of dollars to support Ukraine in its fight against Russia and security aid for Israel, as well as humanitarian assistance for civilians in Gaza, the West Bank and Ukraine.
According to the Senate Committee on Appropriations, the bill includes roughly $60 billion to support Ukraine in its war against Russia, $14.1 billion in security assistance for Israel, and $20.23 billion for operational needs and capabilities at the border and to provide resources for the new border policies — an amount that rises above the $14 billion Biden initially requested for border security.
The package also includes billions of dollars for regional partners in the Indo-Pacific.
If Congress is unable to pass the package, senators will have to decide whether to try to pass aid to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan separately from border and immigration measures.
It’s unclear whether a foreign aid package would be able to pass on its own as many Senate Republicans have demanded tighter border security in exchange for aid to those allies.
The US Capitol in January. Samuel Corum/Getty Images
Senate Republicans are expected to tanka major bipartisan border deal and foreign aid package with assistance for Ukraine and Israel in a vote on Wednesday amid a torrent of attacks on the bill by former President Donald Trump and top House Republicans.
Why this matters: A failed vote will amount to a stunning rebuke by Senate Republicans of a deal that would have enacted restrictive border measures and was crafted in part by one of their own members – James Lankford of Oklahoma, one of the chamber’s most conservative senators. Republicans had demanded that border security be part of the bill, but are now rejecting the deal after pressure from Trump, who is making the border a central campaign issue in his race for the White House.
The expected outcome is poised to leave aid for Ukraine and Israel, two key US allies, in jeopardy at a critical time. In the aftermath of the vote, lawmakers will face increasing pressure to pass foreign aid on its own without any border provisions – an uncertain prospect as some Republicans are opposed to further aid to Ukraine.
The Senate is set to hold an initial procedural vote on Wednesday that would require 60 votes for the bill to advance. There are expected to be defections on both sides of the aisle, butthere has been a flood of GOP opposition to the deal in the wake of its release on Sunday evening.
If Republicans block the larger package as expected, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer plans to force a procedural vote on an emergency aid package for Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan — and drop the new border deal — according to a Democratic aide.
