Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) ripped into the Senate for excluding border security provisions in the $95 million foreign aid bill passed on Tuesday.
The bill passed after an all-night session by a 70-29 vote, with 22 Republicans joining all but three members of the Democratic caucus in passing the bill. Manchin, a centrist Democrat, pushed for action to be done on the border after a foreign aid bill that included border security collapsed last week after pushback from most Republicans and some Democrats.
“While I’m pleased the Senate came together to pass bipartisan aid for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, I’m extremely disappointed that the legislation excludes essential provisions to shut down the southern border and send a clear message to the world that if you come here illegally, you will be sent home,” Manchin said in a statement on Tuesday. “We owe it to the 18,000 men and women of the Border Patrol Union to keep working to pass this bill, and I intend to do just that.”
Despite the criticism over what was left out of the bill, the West Virginia Democrat also praised the legislation for upholding its commitments to Ukraine and Israel amid wars in both countries.
“As the superpower of the world, we cannot abandon our allies. The United States Senate’s bipartisan national security package advances America’s interests both on the world stage and right here at home. It’s a commitment to help Ukraine fight against Putin’s unprovoked invasion and send a powerful signal to all our NATO allies, especially those along the Russian border, that we will stand strong to defend democracy,” Manchin said. “We are also making a commitment to support Israel following Hamas’ unprecedented terrorist attack.”
“Lastly, it’s a commitment to rebuilding our own defense industrial base. I am proud to vote for peace and stability over tyranny and authoritarianism, and I urge my colleagues in the House to take up and pass this bipartisan package as quickly as possible.”
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The bill faces an uphill battle in the House of Representatives, in which Republican leadership has still pushed for action on the border while also being unconvinced about additional funding for Ukraine.
The Senate bill that included border provisions had been negotiated by a bipartisan group for four months but fell apart after a majority of the Senate GOP was vocally opposed to it and House GOP leadership promised it would be “dead on arrival.”
