Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) has reportedly urged his House counterpart, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), to keep the House in session to allow time for Senate negotiators to reach an agreement on the US-Mexico border and unlock a vote on Ukraine supplemental funding.
- Schumer said, per Chad Pegram at Fox News: “Last night, I got on the phone with Speaker Johnson and urged him to keep the House in session to give a supplemental a chance to come together.”
- Schumer: “I told him the House should stay in session because over the past 24 hours, I've been alarmed to see some of the same Republicans… who had previously demanded action on the border are now suggesting there's no urgency to act before Christmas.”
- Schumer: “If Republicans are serious about getting something done on the border, then why are so many of them in such a hurry to leave for the winter break? Has the border simply been an excuse to kill funding for Ukraine by Republicans… and getting ready to rush out of town?”
- Comes as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy meets lawmakers on Capitol Hill to advocate for additional funding. According to Max Cohen at Punchbowl News, "Johnson said he told Zelensky he stands with Ukraine against Putin’s brutal invasion." Then pivoted, "to attacking Biden admin for asking for more money to Ukraine without appropriate oversight. Adds border security must come first."