GOP senator ‘beyond frustrated’ that major bills still haven’t been introduced as deadlines approach
Sen. Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., has not introduced any major bills since the upper chamber returned from the Thanksgiving recess, prompting backlash from some Republicans.
Instead, the majority leader prioritized President Biden’s judicial nominees during his first week back, and “we are no closer to an agreement today than we were when Hamas attacked Israel,” said Sen. Roger Marshall, R- Kansas, to Fox News Digital.
The Senate still has to work on the reauthorization of the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA), the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), the reauthorization of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), the supplemental national security package of Biden’s $106 billion Farm Bill and a budget expected early next year to keep the federal government’s lights on.
When lawmakers returned to the Capitol last week, Schumer said in a “Dear Colleague” letter that there is much “the Senate must do before the end of the year.”
Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., addresses a news conference following the Senate luncheons at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, June 21, 2023. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
“As we have done all year, bipartisan cooperation will be needed to advance these bills in the Senate. Senators should expect long days and nights, and potentially weekends in December,” he said.
“One of the most important tasks we must complete is to adopt and pass a funding bill to ensure that we, as well as our friends and partners in Ukraine, Israel and the Indo-Pacific region, have the military capabilities necessary to confront and deter our adversaries and competitors.”
But some Republican lawmakers are wondering why none of the major bills have made it to the floor as the end of the year quickly approaches and a long to-do list remains untouched.
GOP SENATORS AND HOUSE CONSERVATIVES CALL FOR ‘FISCAL SANITY’ AND STRONGER BORDER SECURITY
The United States Capitol in Washington, DC, USA, on Saturday, September 30, 2023. (Anna Rose Layden/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
“Schumer has made empty threats to force a vote on this $106 billion package while refusing to come to the table and negotiate,” Marshall told Fox News Digital on Monday.
“You may be able to intimidate your caucus into voting for this bogus bill, but Senate Republicans are entrenched. We will not budge until meaningful border security policies are secured,” he said.
Marshall, who sits on the Senate Budget Committee and the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, said Republicans “will vote against the shutdown and we will not move an inch until there is a bill that puts our safety first.” national to foreign countries”.
And he added: “My priorities are simple: border, border, border.”
Senate Republicans have been leading the fight for border security measures such as stricter asylum standards for migrants and beefing up border patrol in Biden’s supplemental domestic request that Congress must approve before the end of the month.
“I am beyond frustrated by this chamber’s amazing ability to waste all of our time. When we have the NDAA reauthorization, the FAA reauthorization, the FISA Section 702 reauthorization, a Farm Bill to pass, and a government to fund in a few weeks, we’re barely here. voting every day on nominations, give me a break,” Marshall said.
GOP SENATORS PRESENT SEPARATE BILL TO HELP ISRAEL WITHOUT MORE FUNDING TO UKRAINE
President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden welcome Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his wife Olena Zelenska on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, Thursday, Sept. 21, 2023. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
BIDEN ADMIN URGES LARGE FUNDING INCREASES FOR AID TO CIVILIANS OF UKRAINE, ISRAEL AND GAZA
Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., told Fox News Digital in an interview last week that Schumer doesn’t mention spending bills because “his goal is not to pass spending bills, but to have an overall plan.”
“Why aren’t we crafting spending bills? Why isn’t Schumer having real negotiations on the border?” Scott said.
A briefing for all senators on Ukraine and Israel funding will be held Tuesday from 3 to 4 p.m. ET, sources familiar told Fox News Digital on Friday.
The White House supplemental request, which was sent to Congress in October, includes $61.4 billion for Ukraine, $14.3 billion for Israel (with $10.6 billion allocated for military aid), $13.6 billion for some border measures such as speeding up asylum processing and significant investments. in security assistance for the Indo-Pacific, totaling around $7.4 billion. Additionally, there is $9 billion earmarked for humanitarian aid in Ukraine, Israel and Gaza.
Fox News Digital reached out to Schumer’s office.
