In an impassioned speech on the Senate floor on Thursday, Dec. 14, Democrat Michael Bennet defended his blocking of a must-pass bill, demanding more aid to Ukraine. The bill would extend the authorization of the Federal Aviation Administration into March. If the bill does not pass by the end of the year, the FAA is at risk of a shutdown.
“That’s what they’re doing during this Christmas season; they’re fighting for their lives, they’re fighting for democracy,” Sen. Bennet said of Ukraine.
Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, called Bennet’s objection “irresponsible” as more than 7.5 million Americans are expected to fly this holiday season.
“At the moment, we face a potential challenge of not extending the FAA’s authorities because of the objections of a Senate Democrat,” Cruz said. “This is irresponsible and, frankly, bad for the safety agency’s ability to operate effectively.”
The Senate is looking to pass the bill unanimously, with all 100 senators voting in favor, but Bennet told reporters on Thursday that he is willing to hold the bill up as long as it takes to get Ukraine the aid it needs.
However, as time passes, there are many other hurdles any funding bill would have to clear. Republicans said any bill that includes funding for Ukraine and Israel must include stricter border policy, a stipulation that has already blocked funding efforts. And anything that does get passed by the Senate would have to be voted on by the House, which has adjourned for the holidays.
The House breaking for the holidays is another contentious issue. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., criticized Republican speaker Mike Johnson’s decision to adjourn.
“If it is an emergency, as so many Republicans have said on the border, and many have said about Ukraine, you don’t go home for three weeks,” Schumer said. “It will be much harder to do in January, everyone admits that, than it is today.”
If any funding does get pushed through the Senate in the next two weeks, the House could be called back for a vote, but Johnson said in a statement on Thursday that the House would not wait around for a rushed product from the Senate.