Negotiations on a national security supplemental package, particularly on border security, are ongoing with progress being made. Both Senate Democrats and Republicans, along with the White House, are involved in the talks. There is a sense of urgency to reach an agreement before the end of the year. While significant progress has been reported, there are still key issues to resolve. Both parties acknowledge the need to address the national security crisis at the border. Details and legislative text are still being worked on, and it is emphasized that the drafting of the text is difficult. The negotiations are considered essential to address critical national security priorities.
1) Schumer/McConnell: Bipartisan border security negotiations are essential to the Senate’s efforts to address critical national security priorities. Our colleagues are making encouraging progress on this front.
A) GOP OK Sen Lankford: I have worked to finalize a border security proposal that will stop the massive flow of illegal immigration into our nation. In the past few days, significant progress has been made, but there is still no final agreement, much less legislative text
SCHUMER, MCCONNELL: MAKING PROGRESS ON BORDER SECURITY TALKS
1) GOP OK Sen Lankford on Fox on border security: We are making real progress on this. We finally have everybody at the table and everyone admitting that this is a national security crisis that we do have to address. That's actually progress.
Schumer says “we must succeed” on border/Ukraine talks. He adds it’ll take more time to get done. “The details here matter immensely.”
Schumer says border security talks "have not been easy" and "will take more time."
1) McConnell on border talks: And there are a number of significant issues our colleagues are still working to resolve the effects of years of failed border enforcement are compounded.
Schumer on the border negotiations: “While the job is not finished, I’m confident we’re headed in the right direction.”
On their Biden impeachment stunt: (L) Speaker Johnson falsely insisting House Republicans “will not prejudge the investigation’s outcome” (R) The House Republican leading the effort, James Comer, on rightwing radio the day after their vote last week: “I want to impeach him now” https://t.co/zp0OsehyEi
A) Cornyn on Fox on border talks: I've talked to a couple of key negotiators yesterday and they feel like they're making some progress.
1) Dem CA Rep Khanna on Fox on border/Israel/Ukraine: I'm concerned and I agree that we should just separate the issues..
A) Dem CT Sen Murphy on border talks: We’re not in agreement, but as we get closer to an agreement, details really matter, the drafting of the text is really hard and difficult..But that becomes a clearer reality as you start to think about how this will ultimately get written.
1) From colleague Nick Rojas. GOP OK Sen Lankford on border talks: The good thing is everyone is committed around the table saying we can’t have the border functioning as it is right now. Right, 11,000 people yesterday crossed the border, 11,000.
A) Dem MD Rep Ivey on Fox on Senate staying in session to work on border security: I was a little surprised that we went out. I'm glad the Senate stayed in and continue to move forward with these negotiations, because I do think it's urgent
1) From colleague Nick Rojas. Dem CT Sen Murphy on border talks: My goal is to get a bill passed as quickly as possible..I think we need to get a bill passed by the end of the year…Obviously we’re working through the weekend, so that we can have something on the floor next week
1) From colleague Aishah Hasnie. GOP OK Sen Lankford on border security talks: We're making progress..we still got a long way to go and a lot of issues working through. But we're working through them methodically for the night tonight.
1) From colleague Tyler Olson. Dem CT Sen Murphy on border talks: Our goal is to try to get this voted on by before we break for the year.... I actually think that can happen...I'm not trying to sugarcoat it. It's an aggressive schedule, but this is an emergency
A) GOP OK Sen Mullin on Fox on border talks: The White House just engaged literally in the last week. It's almost impossible to actually get true border security and border reforms done...It's a very complicated piece. And we're going to we're going to try to do it in a week?
A) Dem MI Rep Dingell on Fox: I think we're conducting an impeachment inquiry to balance the indictments that President Trump has got and to distract the American people from the fact that we could be looking up to a partial government shutdown on January 19th
1) Graham on border talks: I look forward to voting no to a bad deal next week. I hope they bring up an immigration proposal that doesn't do the job and see if I'll vote no. I will gladly vote no to a bad deal next week.
A) From colleague Kelly Phares. Tillis on state of border security talks: We're not at that level where we're only punching one ticket or another. There are some fundamental agreements that have to be written down and agreed to, before we even get to that level of negotiation
A) Schumer: Over the last few days, negotiations on a path forward to getting national security supplemental done have made good progress. As I've said, if we believe something is important and urgent, we should stay and get the job done.
1) Schumer: Negotiators from the White House, Senate Democrats and Senate Republicans will continue to negotiate on a national security supplemental package. Yesterday, we had another round of productive conversations and there was more progress. But.. there's more work to do
1) GOP OK Sen Lankford on Fox on border negotiations: Some Senate Democrats and some House Democrats that are catching me and saying, hey, we understand, we see the problem. There's a lot of people in their base that really do want open borders
A) From colleague Tyler Olson. Dem CT Sen Murphy on border negotiations: We made progress yesterday, we made progress today. It's really helpful to have the White House and DHS in the room. We're not there yet but we continue to head in the right direction.
1) Tillis on border negotiation: We’ve seen now what the White House has sent over. I think to the extent that I've heard some Democrats express concern. I think that's progress.