Cotton: Biden’s $100B request ‘dead on arrival’

Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), a key ally of Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), declared Friday that President Biden’s $100 billion foreign aid and national security funding request is “dead on arrival” on Capitol Hill.

“President Biden’s slush fund proposal is dead on arrival, just like his budgets,” Cotton said in a statement. 

“We will not spend, for example, $3.5 billion to address the ‘potential needs of Gazans,” he added, arguing that humanitarian assistance to Gaza could inadvertently fund “a resupply line for Hamas terrorists.”

Cotton balked at spending $11.8 billion to fund Ukraine’s nonmilitary needs, such as retirement pensions for Ukrainian government employees.

“Nor will we spend $4.7 billion for housing, transportation, and ‘services’ for illegal aliens in the United States rather than deporting them,” he warned.

Cotton’s tough talk signals a difficult negotiation ahead on Biden’s request for emergency funding for Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan.

Senate Republicans say that any new money for the war in Ukraine must be paired with changes to immigration and asylum policy to slow the flow of migrants across the U.S.-Mexico border.

“The Biden proposal is going nowhere, and Senate Republicans will take the lead on crafting a funding bill that protects Americans and their interests,” Cotton said.

Senate Republicans see Biden’s request for Ukraine as leverage to get their long-desired changes to U.S. asylum policies.

A group of GOP senators have discussed raising the standard for migrants requesting asylum to require them to show a “reasonable” fear that they would likely be persecuted if they remain in their home counties. Under current law, they must show a “credible” fear of prosecution.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) praised Biden’s request for sending a “clear message” to “friends and allies that we have your back.”

“This package demonstrates America’s commitment to supporting democracies across the world and above all ensuring that America’s families are safe here at home,” he said.

He reiterated that the Senate would move first on an emergency spending package because of the ongoing fight over electing a Speaker.

“This legislation is too important for the House to settle their chaos,” he said.

Biden has requested $61 billion for Ukraine, $14 billion for military aid to Israel and another $14 billion to address the migration surge at the U.S.-Mexico border. 

The president has also asked for $10 billion in humanitarian assistance and $2 billion for Indo-Pacific security.