Washington — Rep. Tony Gonzales, a Texas Republican whose district includes over 800 miles of the U.S.-Mexico border, said Sunday it's going to be a "battle" getting any deal involving Ukraine aid and border security funding through the House.
A bipartisan group of senators has been negotiating a landmark deal to limit asylum and expand detention and deportation efforts. This border agreement would be paired with aid for Ukraine and Israel.
Gonzales said "it's a good start," but "the devil's in the details."
"The Senate is much different than the House. The Senate is going to have its battle getting to 60 votes. The House is going to have its battle getting to 218," Gonzales told "Face the Nation." "We can do that. But we have to sweeten the deal."
- Transcript: Rep. Tony Gonzales on "Face the Nation"
Gonzales said that includes designating cartels as terrorist organizations and holding smugglers accountable. He said those could help get a bill across the finish line.
"The deal between the Senate and the White House is going to be much different than the House and the overall package," he said.
House Passes Immigration Bill, Senate Struggles to Follow Suit
The House of Representatives, led by the GOP, passed an immigration bill earlier this year that includes stricter provisions for migrants seeking asylum in the U.S. However, Republican senators have expressed doubt about the chances of a similar bill passing in the Senate, especially considering it did not receive any Democratic votes in the House. As a result, House lawmakers have left for their holiday break while senators remain in Washington, hoping to reach a deal before the end of the year. House Speaker Mike Johnson has not provided a timeline for passing a bill in the House if the Senate does reach a deal.
Ukrainian Ambassador Urges Congress for Additional Aid
Oksana Markarova, the Ukrainian ambassador to the U.S., has emphasized the importance of time in getting additional aid through Congress. The White House has recently warned that funding for Ukraine's war against Russia will run out by the end of the year. Markarova stated that all eyes are on Congress and expressed hope that progress will be made and a solution will be found.
