As House Foreign Aid Vote Looms, Jeffries, House Dems Say it’s a Matter of ‘Urgent National Security’

By Hamodia Staff

As a bill to fund U.S. allies – which passed a Senate vote Tuesday morning – faces an uncertain fate in the House of Representatives, Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries decried conservative opposition and declared that the bill is a matter of “urgent national security.”

A package of $95 billion was approved by the Senate in a vote of 70-29, to be distributed to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan following months of delay.

But Republican leaders in the House have demanded that President Joe Biden first take action to reduce illegal immigration before any Ukraine aid can pass. Yet a painstakingly negotiated border enforcement deal was dropped from the assistance package following opposition from Donald Trump, the Republican presidential frontrunner, who derided the compromise as a “gift” to Democrats.

Jeffries, joined by House Democrats, held a press conference Tuesday afternoon where he stated his part’s commitment to “continue working to protect our national security and stand with our allies.” 

Some of the representatives who joined him in the press conference served in the U.S army, including Jason Crow (CO-6) and Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) . Jeffries described them as “patriotic Americans who have served this country in uniform, served this country in combat and now are serving this country in the United States Congress.

“They understand through their own life experiences of service how urgent it is that the House pass forth with the bipartisan and comprehensive national security bill that has been advanced in the United States Senate.

“This is a matter of America’s urgent national security. It’s a matter of democracy. It’s a matter of freedom. It’s a matter of standing by our allies. And in the absence of doing so, particularly as it relates to the ongoing war of aggression launched by Russia against Ukraine, it’s a matter of American lives potentially being on the line if Ukraine and its brave war effort falters because of inaction here in the United States Congress by extreme MAGA Republicans.”

House Speaker Mike Johnson is under threat from conservative members not to allow Ukraine aid to pass without extracting immigration concessions that are anathema to Democrats, such as forcing all asylum seekers to remain in Mexico and building a border wall. Johnson issued a statement late Monday rejecting the Senate bill, saying it failed to address the border crisis.