Schumer says Senate should move funding invoice with Ukraine support rapidly, ‘hopefully tonight’

CNN
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Senate Majority Chief Chuck Schumer mentioned Thursday that Republicans and Democrats should work collectively to “rapidly” move an enormous authorities funding invoice with $13.6 billion in aid to Ukraine as quickly as attainable, “hopefully tonight.”

“As soon as this invoice arrives on the Senate, Republicans should work with Democrats to move the invoice as quickly as attainable, hopefully tonight,” Schumer mentioned. “There may be each cause on the planet to imagine that we are able to arrive at a path ahead rapidly.”

The Senate is dealing with strain to behave forward of a looming deadline on Friday when authorities funding is about to run out. The Home of Representatives passed the sweeping bill late Wednesday night.

However as motion now turns to the Senate, there might be challenges forward to swiftly move the invoice.

Any single senator may maintain up fast passage of the invoice and leaders would wish consent from all 100 senators to safe a time settlement to approve the measure earlier than the Friday at midnight deadline.

A shutdown shouldn’t be anticipated to occur, nonetheless, as either side sign they are not looking for that situation to play out.

As a part of the trouble to stop a shutdown, the Home additionally handed on Wednesday night time a stopgap invoice to increase authorities funding via Tuesday.

The Senate is predicted to take up and move the short-term funding extension along with the broader spending invoice in order that congressional clerks have time to complete processing the textual content of the bigger invoice earlier than sending it to President Joe Biden for his signature.

Schumer touted the $13.6 billion in support to Ukraine within the omnibus and pointed to it as a urgent cause for the Senate to rapidly move the large spending invoice.

“The individuals of Ukraine want our fast assist and this omnibus is the quickest and most direct approach of getting them the assistance quick,” he mentioned on the Senate flooring.

“The Ukrainian individuals are combating for his or her lives and combating for the survival of their younger democracy. Congress has an ethical obligation to face behind them as they resist the evils of Vladimir Putin and his marketing campaign of carnage,” he mentioned.

However the New York Democrat mentioned that he’s “deeply disillusioned” that the federal government funding bundle received’t embody Covid-19 support, after Speaker Nancy Pelosi needed to strip out almost $16 billion in funds for pandemic response of the invoice Wednesday because of a Democratic revolt over how the funding would be offset.

“I’m deeply disillusioned that the administration’s request for extra Covid funding didn’t make it into the Home invoice however we’re going to maintain combating to verify we get that cash permitted as quickly as attainable,” he mentioned.

Democratic leaders tried to offset Covid aid cash after pushback from Republicans who’ve argued there must be a full accounting of already allotted cash first. However various Home Democrats revolted over the plan to offset the cash, arguing it might harm their states by taking away funds already promised to them.

The Home is planning to maneuver a standalone invoice on Covid funding, nevertheless it’s anticipated to face GOP opposition within the Senate.

Senate Minority Chief Mitch McConnell criticized Democrats over the episode in remarks on the Senate flooring Thursday.

“Till 24 hours in the past, this compromise was additionally going to reprogram cash away from Democrats wasteful spending spree that uncared for Covid wants, and reallocate it to vaccines and coverings for the American individuals,” McConnell mentioned. “However Home Democrats mutinied towards Speaker Pelosi. The far left would quite protect state and native bureaucrats’ big slush funds, then fund vaccines and therapeutics for our residents. So, the Covid part has fallen out.”

Sen. John Thune, the Senate GOP whip, advised CNN that he expects the large spending invoice to move the Senate at present.

“It ought to” move, he mentioned.

Thune mentioned they have been working with Democrats on an settlement for some votes on amendments earlier than agreeing to schedule a vote on the invoice.

The sweeping authorities spending invoice, recognized on Capitol Hill because the omnibus, is the product of months of negotiations, however the sprawling legislative textual content, which runs 2,741 pages, was not launched till round 1:30 a.m. ET Wednesday, simply hours earlier than Home leaders initially deliberate to attempt to move it via the chamber, leaving little time for lawmakers to overview the measure.

That has led to complaints from lawmakers who really feel rushed and unable to adequately vet the measure earlier than a remaining vote.

There may be widespread help from each events for the infusion of much-needed support to Ukraine, nonetheless, because the nation fights again towards a lethal and unprovoked Russian assault. That dynamic is predicted to assist overcome different objections from some lawmakers to the general legislative bundle.

The omnibus consists of a sequence of fiscal yr 2022 appropriations payments to maintain the federal government working along with emergency supplemental funding for Ukraine.

Of the $13.6 billion in support to Ukraine, cash is put aside for humanitarian, protection and financial help. The invoice additionally consists of provisions for sanctions enforcement.

The emergency support bundle units apart $four billion to assist refugees who’ve fled or have been displaced throughout the nation and improve the President’s authority for protection gear switch to Ukraine and different allied nations to $three billion, in line with a truth sheet from the Home Appropriations Committee.

Amongst a variety of different provisions, the omnibus may also reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act and implement cybersecurity initiatives, Pelosi and Senate Majority Chief Chuck Schumer introduced Wednesday.

This story has been up to date with extra developments Thursday.