Schumer describes "intense" White House meeting with Johnson under pressure over Ukraine aid
CBSN
Washington — Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said an exchange during a White House meeting with President Biden over approving more aid for Ukraine was "one of the most intense" scenes he had ever witnessed in the Oval Office, where Speaker Mike Johnson faced bipartisan pressure to pass another round of military assistance.
The White House has urged Congress to pass a supplemental funding bill that would provide tens of billions of dollars in aid to U.S. allies and partners, including about $60 billion for Ukraine, $14.1 billion for Israel and around $9.2 billion for humanitarian assistance in Gaza. The Senate passed the legislation earlier this month on a bipartisan basis, but House Speaker Mike Johnson has so far blocked its path forward in the House.
Schumer, the president, vice president, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries made it clear how "vital" the aid is to help Ukraine in its war with Russia, Schumer said after emerging from the meeting. He added that the issue is "so, so important" and that the group of leaders told Johnson to "get it done."
