GOP Blocks Biden Ukraine Aid Bill in Push for Border Funding

Senate Republicans blocked billions of dollars in aid to Ukraine and other nations over an effort to increase border security in the U.S.

The 49-51 vote fell short of the 60 votes needed to secure the measure for Democrats.

GOP lawmakers block Biden security aid to Ukraine, Israel and Indo-Pacific, press for more border fundinghttps://t.co/lQWwweq24Q

— Bruce Chambers (@bruce31049) December 6, 2023

"Biden has asked Congress for nearly $106 billion to fund the wars in Ukraine and Israel and other security needs. His administration has warned of dire consequences for Kyiv, and a 'gift' to Russia’s Vladimir Putin, if lawmakers don’t act," Fox News reported.

"But a contingent of Republican lawmakers has grown wary of providing more support to Ukraine on top of the $111 billion in assistance already given. Other GOP lawmakers have insisted on stiff changes to U.S. border policy as a condition of voting for the measure," it added.

The US Senate blocked an emergency spending bill which would have provided billions of dollars in new security assistance for Ukraine and Israel, as Republicans insisted on tougher measures and more money to control immigration at the US border with Mexico https://t.co/W7cEgdFDYc pic.twitter.com/tav3WvWzE7

— Reuters (@Reuters) December 7, 2023

"The vote was along party lines, with every Senate Republican voting no along with Senator Bernie Sanders, an independent who generally votes with Democrats but had expressed concerns about funding Israel's 'current inhumane military strategy' against Palestinians," Reuters reported.

"The bill would provide about $50 billion in new security assistance for Ukraine, as well as money for humanitarian and economic aid for the government in Kyiv, plus $14 billion for Israel as it battles Hamas in Gaza," it continued.

The move now forces the Senate to put together a new deal to move forward on Ukraine and other measures.

The effort also impacts aid to Israel and Taiwan, two important nations dependent on financial support for security and defense.

The GOP focus on the border, however, reveals the importance of the matter, with Biden's open border policy a major political issue as we head into 2024.

Democrats will now head back to the drawing board, hoping to revise a deal that can get the votes needed to move forward.