WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) has given his full support to a bipartisan emergency border and national security funding bill introduced by his Senate colleagues. The bill focuses on strengthening border security, combating the fentanyl crisis, and providing international aid, including support for Ukraine and Israel.
“This bipartisan bill provides critical steps towards securing our southern border, stopping fentanyl from coming into our nation and destroying Pennsylvania communities, and cracking down on the transnational criminal organizations in the fentanyl supply chain,” Casey said. He also highlighted the bill’s international focus, citing key assistance to Ukraine in its conflict with Russia and to Israel in its battle against Hamas.
In addition to these measures, the legislation provides significant humanitarian aid to civilians in global conflict zones, including Gaza, the West Bank, and Ukraine.
Casey emphasized the urgent need to pass this legislation, urging his fellow Senators and House Representatives to prioritize national security over political differences. “Our border and our national security are too important to not get this done,” he said.
The emergency supplemental spending bill includes funding to bolster the southwest border’s security, including hiring additional border patrol agents and investing in advanced inspection technology and equipment. These tools will be crucial in detecting and preventing the influx of fentanyl into the United States through official ports of entry along the southwest border. These provisions align with those in Senator Casey’s Stop Fentanyl at the Border Act.
Simultaneously, the bill incorporates the Fentanyl Eradication and Narcotics Deterrence (FEND) Off Fentanyl Act. As part of his advocacy for these bills, Casey has been meeting with law enforcement officials and families affected by fentanyl overdoses across Pennsylvania.
The legislation also proposes policy changes to streamline the asylum process, making it more orderly, and increase the number of employment and family-based visas. Notably, it offers a pathway to residency for Afghan allies who fought alongside U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan.
The proposed bill also dedicates substantial support to Ukraine as it resists Russia’s aggressive invasion and aids Israel in its conflict against the terrorist group Hamas.
Furthermore, the bill allocates billions of dollars in humanitarian assistance to provide essential services like food, water, shelter, and medical care to civilians in Gaza, the West Bank, Ukraine, and other global conflict zones.
This bipartisan bill represents a significant step toward addressing domestic and international security concerns, tackling the fentanyl crisis, and providing crucial humanitarian aid. With Senator Casey’s endorsement, the bill now awaits further deliberation and voting in the Senate.
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