Rep. Mike Kelly statement on Senate immigration, Ukraine, Israel supplemental package

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today, U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA) issued this statement following the release of a proposed $118 billion supplemental aid package by a group of U.S. Senators that aims to address border security, Ukraine, and Israel funding among other areas.

The legislation, which is billed as a bipartisan border security package, contains $60 billion in aid for Ukraine; $14 billion for security assistance in Israel; and $20.2 billion for border security and related measures.

"The Senate's proposal is more of a foreign aid package than a border security package with half of the funding earmarked for Ukraine, not for our borders. On day one in office, President Biden reversed Trump-era policies that left our borders wide open. Now, under this legislation, as many as 1.8 million illegal immigrants could enter the United States each year before the border would shut down. That's completely unacceptable," said Rep. Kelly. "This bill does not go nearly far enough to secure our nation's borders, to curb illegal immigration, or to curb illegal human and drug trafficking. The 'Secure The Border Act (H.R.2),' which House Republicans passed in May, is a much more serious piece of border security legislation without the loopholes and work-arounds included in the new Senate bill. The Secure The Border Act is sitting on Chuck Schumer's desk. I urge the Senate to vote on that legislation. In the meantime, we have laws to secure our borders on the books. The Biden administration must enforce them."

You can read more about the Secure The Border Act here.

Additionally, Speaker Mike Johnson has committed to putting a $17.6 billion standalone supplemental aid package to support Israel on the House floor next week.