Donalds Frustrated Border Security was Not Included in Recent Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan Aid Package

Representative Byron Donalds (R-FL) appeared on CNBC to discuss the $95 billion defense package to aid American allies in Israel, Ukraine, Taiwan, and the Indo-Pacific. $60.8 billion will go to Ukraine as they continue their fight against Russia.

The Florida congressman took issue with the fact that border security funding was not instituted in the bill as the migrant crisis continues to occur down south.

“When it comes to Ukraine, the issue in our conference has been very simple: We have said up until last week’s vote that money for Ukraine should be tied in some way to securing the southern border, that America does have national security problems and they start here in the United States with what Joe Biden has allowed,” said Rep. Donalds. “So if you’re going to send more money to Ukraine on top of the $114 billion that has already gone to Ukraine in prior supplementals, then simply secure the southern border. If Joe Biden had done that, then there would have been much more support from Republicans.”

He continued that he doesn’t want to see Russian President Vladimir Putin succeed in Eastern Europe, but important problems also need solving in the homeland.

“With respect to what’s happening in Ukraine, nobody wants to see Putin take the country. There are many other national security implications of that. But at the same time, you cannot ignore the crisis that is in peril: New York City and every other city and state in our country simply because Joe Biden and the Democrats want open borders. We want to put a stop to that. Unfortunately, the package didn’t do that.”

Furthermore, Rep. Donalds mentioned the reason border security wasn’t included is because House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) was able to sidestep his right flank and get the votes for the foreign defense aid without them.

“What happens in Washington all the time is that deals are cut based upon leverage and the ability to count votes. So you use every legislative tool at your disposal to accomplish your means. There have been many bills that have gone through Capitol Hill where there are two diametrically opposed subjects, but they were put together in order to get the votes for it to become law. We all know this,” said Donalds.

He would also state, “So to ignore the reality of security for our nation while you’re providing for security for other nations, as far as I’m concerned does not make sense at all.

“The fact that you’re talking about security, whether it’s here at home or abroad, those are linking subjects. But at the end of the day, this is the package that the Speaker and the leadership put on the floor. That’s why you had a majority of Republicans – 112 of us – vote against funding for Ukraine because we had been told by our leadership, and frankly, we had been telling the American people that there was not going to be more Ukraine aid unless our border was secure. That ended up not being the case,” concluded Donalds.

Congressman Donalds represents Florida’s 19^th District.