Milwaukee City Wire

On Tuesday, U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) took to the Senate floor to voice his opposition to the Ukraine spending bill that failed to address the issue of securing the U.S. border. In his remarks, Sen. Johnson emphasized the importance of prioritizing the safety of American citizens. He stated, "What should the United States Senate, what should Congress, what should this administration be doing to keep Americans safe?"

Sen. Johnson criticized the bill for allocating $60 billion to secure Ukraine's border while neglecting to address the pressing issue of border security in the United States. He expressed his frustration, saying, "As long as the Administration had a high priority of supplying another $60+ billion to Ukraine, to help Ukraine secure its border, we thought maybe, just maybe, we could use that as leverage to force the Administration to secure our border."

Highlighting the magnitude of the border crisis under President Biden's administration, Sen. Johnson pointed out that approximately 6 million people have entered the country illegally since the start of Biden's term. He raised concerns about the lack of knowledge regarding the identities of these individuals and the potential risks they pose. Sen. Johnson stated, "We definitely don't know who these people are, the close to 2 million gotaways, known and unknown."

Drawing attention to the scale of the migrant flow, Sen. Johnson compared the number of illegal entries to the populations of various U.S. states. He noted, "31 states have a population of less than 6 million people. My state, Wisconsin, is out in the bubble. We're about 5.8, 5.9 [million] people." Sen. Johnson highlighted the significant strain that this influx of migrants has placed on the country's security and resources.

Addressing the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, Sen. Johnson condemned Russian President Vladimir Putin as an "evil war criminal." He acknowledged that Putin's invasion of Ukraine was unjustifiable but stressed the importance of recognizing the current bloody stalemate in the region. Sen. Johnson urged his colleagues to consider the devastating toll the conflict has taken on Ukraine, with thousands of casualties and extensive destruction. He warned against adding $60 billion to the fire of this bloody stalemate.

Sen. Johnson also reflected on the values that Americans hold dear and the need to reassess the outcomes of past interventions. He emphasized the desire for safety, security, prosperity, and opportunity, not just for Americans but for people worldwide. Sen. Johnson called for a critical examination of the actions taken by leaders, agencies, and the military-industrial complex to ensure that the interventions align with the desired outcomes.

In his passionate plea against the Ukraine funding bill, Sen. Johnson highlighted the need to prioritize border security and protect American citizens. He urged his colleagues to consider the consequences of their decisions and to focus on the values that unite us as Americans.