U.S. Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.) has released the text of a “bipartisan” border bill that provides almost four times as much U.S. taxpayer dollars to foreign countries as it does the actual U.S. border.
While $20 billion in the bill would go toward securing the U.S.border, $60 billion would go for “military aid” to Ukraine and $14 billion is allotted for “military aid” to Israel.
🚨Breaking News: The Bipartisan Border Bill negotiated by Republican Senator James Lankford has officially been released👇
1. $60 billion in military aid to Ukraine
2. $14 billion in military aid to Israel
3. $20 billion for border security pic.twitter.com/rzZsyLVAPT— The Calvin Coolidge Project (@TheCalvinCooli1) February 5, 2024
U.S. Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) pointed out that the bill would actually provide more money to Ukraine than the entire U.S. Marine Corps budget in 2023:
Fun fact, the U.S. Marine Corps budget in FY23 was $53.8 billion. This bill would give Ukraine more than $60 billion.
— Mike Lee (@BasedMikeLee) February 5, 2024
Lee also took issue with the proposal’s creation of a “Border Emergency Authority.”
The bill reads:
Whenever the border emergency authority is activated, the Secretary (of Homeland Security) shall have the authority, in the Secretary’s sole unreviewable discretion, to summarily remove from and prohibit, in whole or in part, entry into the United States of any alien identified in subsection (a)(3) who is subject to such authority in accordance with this subsection.
“As to the substance of the “border emergency authority,” it appears to be left to the discretionary whims of Secretary Mayorkas—who, I might add, is currently being impeached for failing to actually enforce existing law,” Lee posted on X. “This is asinine.”
As to the substance of the “border emergency authority,” it appears to be left to the discretionary whims of Secretary Mayorkas—who, I might add, is currently being impeached for failing to actually enforce existing law.
This is asinine. pic.twitter.com/3Q7Vj58odr
— Mike Lee (@BasedMikeLee) February 5, 2024
Despite the above, Lankford issued a press release saying his “border security package” has “huge wins for securing the border.
“I cannot imagine why any Republican supports this atrocious proposal,” U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) posted on X about the proposed bill earlier today.
"The border never closes" is a good summary of this bill, and of Joe Biden's policy.
I can understand why Chris Murphy supports it. I cannot imagine why any Republican supports this atrocious proposal. https://t.co/ekv7LJ8qbO
— J.D. Vance (@JDVance1) February 5, 2024