By STEPHEN GROVES, MARY CLARE JALONICK and LISA MASCARO
WASHINGTON — The Senate will hold a crucial test vote next week on legislation that would pair new policies at the southern border with wartime aid for Ukraine and other American allies, leaders pressing ahead despite heavy skepticism from Republicans and some Democrats.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said he will set in motion a test vote on the national security package for Wednesday. However, with some Republicans resisting the timeline and many remaining uncommitted to supporting the border policy changes, the bill’s future remained uncertain.
“Our southern border is in urgent need, in urgent need, of fixing,” Schumer said in a floor speech.
Senate negotiators are expected in the coming days to release the text of a bill that would overhaul the U.S. asylum system with tougher and quicker enforcement as well as send tens of billions of dollars in military assistance to Ukraine, Israel and other allies in Asia. Negotiators, toiling for weeks to finish the deal, have kept the bill’s details a closely guarded secret, but have come under heavy pressure from Republicans who are both frustrated they have not seen the bill’s contents and are wary of making any compromise on border security.
The Senate deal could be President Joe Biden’s best chance to enact policies to address a southern border that has been marked by historic numbers of migrants seeking asylum as well as deliver on one of his top foreign policy goals — buttressing Ukraine’s defense against the Russian invasion. The Senate readied to proceed towards a vote next week, but widespread support from Republicans, especially House Speaker Mike Johnson, remained doubtful.
“We’ll see. I will try,” Biden told reporters Thursday morning as he entered a prayer breakfast at the Capitol with Johnson.
Many Senate Republicans have declined to offer support for the bill until they can dig into its details. They are also facing…
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