US Senate Unveils $118B National Security Bill

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Facts

  • On Sunday, US Senators unveiled a $118B bipartisan bill aimed at boosting security at the US-Mexico border and providing wartime aid to Ukraine and Israel.1
  • The legislation, characterized as 'monumental' by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), earmarks $60B to support Ukraine, $14B to support Israel in its war against Hamas, and $10B for humanitarian assistance in conflict zones. Additional funds include supporting security operations in the Red Sea and balancing China in the Indo-Pacific region.2
  • The proposal also allocates over $20B to address the operational needs at the US-Mexico border — far more than the $14B Pres. Joe Biden had sought.3
  • However, the bill's prospects seemed bleak as House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) called it 'dead on arrival,' as part of more vocal opposition within the GOP, including former Pres. Donald Trump. The first procedural vote on the legislation is expected on Wednesday.4
  • There is also some opposition from some Democrats who are concerned over the humanitarian situation in Gaza. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) has suggested that the aid to Israel be limited to defensive weaponry.5

Sources: 1Associated Press, 2Voice of America, 3CNN, 4Washington Post and 5Al Jazeera.

Narratives

  • Republican narrative, as provided by WSJ. The new Senate bill is just a stop-gap and an inadequate one at that. It does nothing to tackle the catastrophe along the Mexico border that the Biden administration has let brew. It barely attempts to touch upon matters that the Democrats had, till now, chosen to ignore. The White House must prioritize the southern border and take a hard look at its overseas engagements and whether it makes sense to prioritize military assistance for Israel over Ukraine.
  • Democratic narrative, as provided by The Hill. Both Republicans and Democrats have put in months of hard work to shape the bipartisan border deal introduced on Sunday. It's a fair starting point in a long journey to foster a solid and effective immigration policy. The GOP hard right shouldn't hold US aid to its allies hostage due to grandstanding in an election year. The White House is committed to border security and supporting America's allies in a responsible manner.