Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT), the head of the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), came out strongly against a newly proposed Senate bill that pairs aid for Israel and Ukraine with funding measures to address the crisis at the U.S. southern border.
Daines said that the bill doesn’t secure the border as its proponents say and criticized components that he said would fund lawyers for illegal immigrants who crossed unlawfully into the United States. The Montana Republican said that President Joe Biden should instead adopt the policies of former President Donald Trump, like the Remain in Mexico policy, Title 42, and resume border wall construction.
“I can’t support a bill that doesn’t secure the border, provides taxpayer funded lawyers to illegal immigrants and gives billions to radical open borders groups. I’m a no,” Daines said.
Daines has headed up the NRSC, the group responsible for backing Republican Senate candidates through fundraising, messaging, and election strategy, since 2023.
I can’t support a bill that doesn’t secure the border, provides taxpayer funded lawyers to illegal immigrants and gives billions to radical open borders groups. I’m a no.
— Steve Daines (@SteveDaines) February 5, 2024
The bill provides $60 billion for Ukraine, $14 billion for Israel, $10 billion for global humanitarian aid, and $20 billion for measures related to the southern border.
Backed by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Minority Leader Mitch McConnel (R-KY), it faces an uphill battle in the Senate, with an increasing number of senators announcing opposition and House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) announcing that the bill would be “dead on arrival” if it reaches the House.
Sen. Eric Schmidt (R-MO) urged his Republican colleagues to vote against the measure and said it was “worse than advertised.”
“The Democrats are celebrating. Big wins for the Open Borders crowd. Lots more analysis to come. Need 41 Senators to STAND FIRM to prevent this bill from being jammed through,” he said.
“This is worse than bad negotiation. It’s betrayal. The Senate GOP can still stop it if 41 will stand together,” Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) said.
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Sen. James Lankford (R-OK), the lawmaker who negotiated with Democrats on the legislation, said the bill would deter illegal immigration and reform the asylum process.
“People come in mass numbers because they’re getting released into the country,” Lankford told the Washington Post. “If the word gets out immediately that it’s not true anymore, people will come in a more orderly fashion.”