Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, a prominent Republican voice on national security and immigration matters, emphasizes the necessity for Democrats to provide Republicans with an opportunity to amend the recently negotiated border security deal. Graham, initially advocating the integration of border security reforms with funding for the Ukraine war, now asserts that the agreement crafted by Sen. James Lankford of Oklahoma, following four months of bipartisan negotiations, requires enhancements.
Expressing his stance, Graham stated, “Now that the Senate’s national security supplemental text has been released, I look forward to the amendment process to try to improve the bill.” He insists that such a consequential matter should undergo a thorough and inclusive debate and amendment process in the Senate, cautioning that if Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer fails to allow an open amendment process, the bill risks failure due to procedural issues.
Graham remains receptive to strengthening the legislation through amendments, emphasizing that this can only be achieved through the amendment process. In an interview on “Fox News Sunday,” he cast doubt on the possibility of passing the bill before the scheduled two-week break for Presidents Day, describing the tactic of bringing significant legislation to the floor right before a holiday as the “oldest game in town.”
Schumer intends to schedule a vote on Wednesday to advance the legislative vehicle carrying the bipartisan border deal, alongside $60 billion for Ukraine and $14 billion for Israel. However, obstacles may arise, as at least two Democrats, Sens. Alex Padilla and Bob Menendez, have expressed opposition to the border package. Additionally, Sen. Bernie Sanders is expected to vote against the bill unless it includes restrictions on military aid to Israel, proposing a withholding of $10 billion earmarked for Israel’s military, alleging its potential use in supporting the invasion of Gaza. Consequently, the $118 billion defense supplemental spending bill requires at least 12 Republican votes to secure passage in the Senate.