Dem Sen. Bennet pushes to keep Senate in session to secure Ukraine aid deal

Colorado Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet aims to keep the Senate in Washington while it hammers out a deal to secure border security reforms in exchange for approving Ukraine aid.

While President Joe Biden has urged Congress to approve more than $100 billion in supplemental funding for key security partners abroad, including more than $60 billion for Ukraine, Republicans have insisted on tying support for Kyiv to reforms to border security. Talks in the upper chamber have reportedly yielded fruit in recent days amid the visit of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Bennet, for his part, is mulling procedural objections to bills facing year-end deadlines to hold the upper chamber in the nation's capital, Politico reported, citing "a person close to him." He previously held up the Senate's approval of the National Defense Authorization Act, but relented on that effort.

The senator "has had numerous conversations with Leader Schumer, the White House, and Republicans on getting to a deal to fund Ukraine," the source told the outlet. "Bennet has a meeting this afternoon with Leader McConnell. He's been assured things are moving in a positive direction, and has reiterated to leadership that we cannot leave for the holidays without funding Ukraine."

While his efforts may result in the upper chamber concluding a deal among its own lawmakers, House Speaker Mike Johnson plans to send lower chamber lawmakers home at the end of the week and indicated that Zelensky's visit had not moved him on the negotiations.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell on Tuesday suggested it was "practically impossible" for Congress to negotiate a deal and approve legislation before Congress left for Christmas.

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter.