US House Speaker stresses need to support US border policy

WORLD, Nov. 28 (YPA) – US House Speaker Mike Johnson has called helping Ukraine a priority for US lawmakers, but stressed the need for additional funds to be allocated to US border policy.

“Ukraine is another priority. Of course, we can’t allow Vladimir Putin to march through Europe. And we understand the necessity of assisting there. What we’ve said is that if there is to be additional assistance to Ukraine — which most members of Congress believe is important — we have to also work on changing our own border policy,” Johnson said.

The Republican-controlled House of Representatives is blocking approval of the White House’s request for additional budget allocations, including $60 billion in aid to Ukraine.

Republicans are pushing the administration to step up security at the southern border to curb the flow of illegal immigration.

Mike Johnson said he is “confident and optimistic” that Congress can push through supplemental funding for Israel and Ukraine — but he did not commit to tying the two together, saying Ukraine funding must be accompanied by border policy changes.

The Washington Post reported earlier that Congress is less interested in funding Kiev than ever before, and that increased competition from other national security priorities, including Israel and the southern border, could mean the end of US aid to Kiev.

E.M