Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) on Monday urged support for the bipartisan border bill amid pushback from Republicans.
“This is a humanitarian and security crisis of historic proportions, and Senate Republicans have insisted — not just for months, but for years — that this urgent crisis demanded action,” McConnell said on the Senate floor.
The minority leader acknowledged Sen. James Lankford (R-OK) for taking a lead in negotiating the border bill while criticizing the Biden administration for the increase in illegal border crossings.
“The crisis has literally never been worse,” McConnell said. “This is the reality as the Senate begins careful consideration of the border security agreement announced last night.
“The gaping hole in our nation's sovereign borders on President Biden's watch is not going to heal itself. And the crater of American credibility after three years of the president's foreign policy will not repair itself either.”
McConnell also pointed to the need for national security legislation as the U.S. military has faced increasing threats abroad:
“It's long past time for the president to demonstrate more resolve and start imposing decisive costs on those who dare to attack America. And it's now time for Congress to take action on supplemental national security legislation that finally meets those challenges head-on.”
“My colleagues know where I stand. They know, as well as I do, that American adversaries in Moscow, Beijing, and Tehran are working together to undermine us,” McConnell continued. “And I know that the time has finally come for the Senate to respond with strength.”
