Biden urged Congress to pass compromise border bill: I will sign it
US President Joe Biden called on the US Congress to approve a compromise version of the bill on strengthening border security with Mexico agreed by a bipartisan group of senators.
Biden's corresponding statement was published by the press service of the White House, Censor.NET informs with reference to "European Pravda".
The American president recalled that two months ago he instructed the White House group to start negotiations with a bipartisan group of senators to resolve the border crisis.
"What has been agreed upon, if passed into law, will be the toughest and fairest set of border security reforms ever implemented in our country," he stressed.
Biden also recalled that the White House's request for additional funding, which was sent back in October, includes funds for border security - including the appointment of border guards, judges, and officers who review asylum issues, and anti-smuggling tools.
"If you are serious about the border crisis, pass a bipartisan bill and I will sign it," the US president concluded.
The request in question also includes more than $60 billion in support for Ukraine and $14 billion for Israel. But its passage has been blocked for months by far-right Republicans who call for tougher measures on the US's southern border.
Blocking US aid to Ukraine
As reported, until the Senate draft law on the border is passed, the issue of US aid to Ukraine will remain blocked.
Earlier, the speaker of the US House of Representatives, Mike Johnson, said that the Senate's draft law on the border, which includes assistance to Ukraine, as well as other countries, will not be approved in the House of Representatives. He called this draft law "dead". However, according to CNN sources, the US Senate has reached an agreement on the border agreement.
Democratic Senator Chris Murphy said that in the next day or two it will become clear whether the US Senate will be able to conclude an agreement on the border with Mexico, which provides for the continuation of aid to Ukraine. The State Department believes that the delay in the decision on the allocation of aid by Congress may have serious consequences for Ukrainians.
The coordinator of the National Security Council of the White House, John Kirby, noted that the refusal of Congress would have catastrophic consequences for Ukraine.
