Senate Negotiations Could Unlock Additional Funding for Ukraine and Israel as Border Deal Looms

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ICARO Media Group
Politics
17/12/2023 20h01

In promising news, Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) expressed optimism on Sunday that a potential Senate deal on the border could be reached this week. The agreement, if finalized, would not only address border security concerns but also pave the way for additional funding for Ukraine and Israel.

Manchin lauded the efforts of both Republican and Democrat negotiators, who have been diligently working towards a compromise. With the involvement of the White House, there is a strong commitment to getting the border under control. Speaking on CNN's "State of the Union," the senator stated, "I think we're gonna see something next week and we'll stay there until we get it done."

Senate negotiations on the border have been ongoing for weeks, with lawmakers signaling optimism about progress being made. The upper chamber aims to reconvene this week, hopeful of reaching an agreement before the year's end. However, Republican lawmakers have made it clear that they will not support additional aid for Ukraine unless new provisions for border security are included.

The consequences of failing to take action by the end of the year were highlighted by the Biden administration, which emphasized that funding for Ukraine could run out. With this urgency in mind, Manchin stressed the need for a bipartisan solution, emphasizing that the House would struggle to accomplish anything without such an agreement.

Earlier this year, the House GOP passed an aid package solely for Israel. However, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) chose not to take it up in the upper chamber. It remains to be seen how this issue will be addressed in the ongoing negotiations.

Despite any challenges, Manchin remained positive, indicating that negotiations were moving forward. He expressed encouragement from his interactions with fellow negotiators, colleagues from both parties, and the White House. The broken state of the border and its associated dangers were highlighted by Manchin, underscoring the critical need for decisive action.

As the Senate gears up to resume negotiations, all eyes will be on the progress made towards a comprehensive border deal. With potential funding for Ukraine and Israel hanging in the balance, the stakes are high for lawmakers to find common ground and reach an agreement that resolves border security concerns while also addressing international aid commitments.

The views expressed in this article do not reflect the opinion of ICARO, or any of its affiliates.

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