WASHINGTON (NewsNation) — Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., called for a vote this week on a revived border security bill negotiated earlier this year, even as House Speaker Mike Johnson declared the bill would be “dead on arrival.”
The bill, introduced in February and written by Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., and Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., ultimately failed in the Senate due to GOP opposition.
Republicans in the Senate previously said the bill, which calls for tougher asylum standards and a border shutdown trigger mechanism, fell short of their expectations.
The latest version of a bipartisan bill could be voted on as early as Thursday.
Democrats double down on border bill vote
Democrats are again trying to pass the Border Act, which they argue would reform U.S. asylum laws, hire thousands of new border agents, invest in technology to stop fentanyl trafficking and give the president new authorities to restrict border crossings.
In a letter sent Sunday to Democratic Senate offices, Schumer acknowledged the bill will likely fail again but said it gives Democrats a chance to show they’re trying to secure the border — an issue where they are perceived as weak by many voters.
The bill had backing from the National Border Patrol Council union, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the conservative Wall Street Journal editorial board when initially proposed.
“By an objective measure, it is strong and realistic, and most importantly a bipartisan proposal. If our bipartisan bill was good enough to win the support of the union that represents border agents, why isn’t it good enough for Senate Republicans,” Schumer said.
In February, after months of negotiation, both sides agreed that the border provision had to be included in a broader foreign aid bill that would give money to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan.
However, the bill stalled after former President Donald Trump told Republicans not to support it even though it contained several border security measures they had sought. All but four Republicans voted to block the bill.
Schumer accused Trump of wanting to undercut the bill in an effort to keep the border debate alive to benefit his campaign.
GOP expected to block border bill again
Meanwhile, Republican leaders have called the bill politically motivated with no real solutions, arguing it makes the border less secure.
“It’s pretty obvious that it’s not likely to pass in the Senate and certainly wouldn’t pass the House. So, what the president is left with, is what he can do on his own, and he ought to do everything he can do on his own,” McConnell said.
On Monday, President Joe Biden urged House and Senate Republican leaders to support the bill.
In the calls to Johnson and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., Biden asked congressional Republicans to “stop playing politics” and quickly pass the legislation, the White House said.
Bill would be ‘dead on arrival’: Johnson
While the previous legislation was tied to U.S. foreign aid, this bill would stand alone.
“Should it reach the House, the bill would be dead on arrival,” Johnson and the House Republican leadership wrote in a joint statement.
The revived bill faces an uphill path with Republicans still firmly opposed. Both parties are positioning ahead of the 2024 elections when control of the White House and Congress will be at stake.
NewsNation correspondent Joe Khalil, digital producer Damita Menezes and Reuters contributed to this report.
