President Biden summoned Johnson and other top congressional lawmakers to the White House this week to discuss passing billions of dollars for Ukraine, the border and Israel.
But Johnson remains critical of the negotiations, saying the House will only accept H.R.2. — a hardline bill passed by the lower chamber last year that Democrats do not support.
“I don’t think now is the time for comprehensive immigration reform, because we know how complicated that is,” Johnson said Wednesday.
A bipartisan group of negotiators are pressing Johnson to accept the compromise bill, which comes after months of stalled discussions and deadlock over the border.
In the Senate, lawmakers are working to bring a bipartisan bill from the talks to the floor next week.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said he was “optimistic” they would get it done.
“For the first time, I think the chances of getting it done in the Senate are greater than not getting it done,” he said. “This is good news.”
In the national security request last year, Biden asked for $61 billion for Ukraine and another $14 billion for Israel.
Biden requested $2 billion for Indo-Pacific security assistance and $14 billion for the border.
It’s not clear where lawmakers have landed on a potential compromise, but the bill is expected to be introduced in the next few days.
Amid the intense negotiations, former President Trump is warning the GOP against supporting the bill.
“I do not think we should do a Border Deal, at all, unless we get EVERYTHING needed to shut down the INVASION of Millions & Millions of people,” Trump wrote.
Read more coverage at TheHill.com.
