South Carolina Republican Representative Nancy Mace fired back at criticism on Sunday from Fox News host Shannon Bream regarding Republicans taking a “vacation” during the ongoing debates on a U.S.-Mexico border bill and additional aid to Ukraine.
The Senate recently approved a bipartisan foreign aid bill that aims to offer military assistance to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan. With a 70-29 vote, the Senate authorized $61 billion in foreign aid to Ukraine, supporting its ongoing conflict against Russia. The bill will now proceed to the House, where Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana, has voiced his opposition to the legislation. He advocates for the inclusion of additional measures related to strengthening border security along the U.S.-Mexico border.
President Joe Biden urged members of the House to vote in favor of advancing the bill after its approval in the Senate, so that he can sign it into law.
“I urge the speaker to give the entire House the opportunity to express their views and not permit a small group of the most radical voices in the House to prevent this bill from even being put to a vote,” Biden stated. “It is imperative that the House takes decisive action on this matter.”
The bill has been stalled due to the House taking a 13-day recess. In a recent interview on Fox News Sunday, Mace addressed the delay in providing additional aid to Ukraine amidst the escalating tensions at the southern border.
Mace expressed her concern about the invasion and international security at the southern border before addressing any Ukraine-related issues or the funding for Ukraine.
Bream pointed out a criticism from Biden about the delay, with the president previously stating that Republicans “just went on vacation” instead of staying to push the bill forward.
In addition, Bream highlighted Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley’s frustration with the impasse. Haley, the former governor of South Carolina, expressed her disappointment, saying, “The issue lies in the fact that Congress should have remained in session and worked towards passing a robust bill. Instead, they took a two-week break, and now [Donald] Trump has instructed them to hold off on any progress until after the general election.”
Trump has previously encouraged Republicans to reject any border deal that is not “perfect” before the general election in November. This has raised concerns about whether certain Republicans are actively trying to prevent Biden from achieving a victory by passing the border bill.
The handling of immigration has emerged as one of the key concerns leading up to the 2024 presidential election. Recent polls indicate doubts about President Biden’s approach to the issue, while Republican frontrunner Trump has pledged to take stronger measures. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) data reveals a significant increase in encounters at the U.S.-Mexico border, with over 2.4 million recorded during the 2023 fiscal year, compared to approximately 1.7 million in 2021.
During the interview, Bream raised a critical point by asking the congresswoman about the perception that President Trump is exerting control over Congress and hindering their ability to address the border issue. Bream highlighted concerns about the influence of the White House and the Republican Party on Congress’s decision-making process.
Mace dismissed the notion of taking a vacation, asserting that she doesn’t take orders from anyone.
“I never take breaks, working seven days a week, and I don’t take orders from anyone. It doesn’t matter if they have an R or a D by their name. However, to verify that statement, the House Republicans have sent over not just one, but two border security bills.”
Mace’s office and the White House were contacted by Newsweek via email for comment.
Mace’s remarks follow the release of the highly anticipated bipartisan border security bill earlier this month. The bill introduces significant reforms in border security, marking a major development in recent years. Additionally, the bill includes aid packages for Ukraine and Israel.
The GOP-led House rejected the $118 billion deal aimed at addressing key concerns at the southern border. Conservative hardliners argued that the bill falls short in effectively putting an end to illegal immigration into the U.S.