Video: On Face the Nation, Sen. Tim Kaine Says “Painful” Border Security Compromise Is “key to opening up the security funding we need for Ukraine”

Sen. Tim Kaine was a guest this morning on “Face the Nation”; see below for video and a few highlights.

• Immigration reform is “really tough”; we have to “come up with something bipartisan” on this; “I was disappointed when President Trump turned down a border protection deal in 2018 that would have invested $25 billion at the border”; “we’ve got to do what’s right right now.” This bill will help us deal with fentanyl coming largely through ports of entry. “People can’t wait, they’re suffering now, and this bill will help deal with that situation.” “This is a painful compromise; this is a tough bill. I wish it were an immigration reform bill and not just a border security bill…We’ve got to dig into the details, but we’ve got to find a compromise…This compromise is also key to opening up the security funding we need for Ukraine, humanitarian assistance in Gaza, defense support for Israel; all that is hinging upon getting this deal, so we need to move forward…I think you’re going to see the Senate move very quickly this week and next…It’s a sizeable package…”
• “If for some reason we can’t find the border agreement, I don’t think that dooms Ukraine aid, because I do believe votes are there for Ukraine in both Houses.” “We’ve got to come up with assistance, especially for Ukraine, very very soon…It’s all at risk if the US isn’t there.”
• On UNRWA, Sen. Kaine said “Israel should defend itself against Hamas, but most Gazans are not Hamas; in fact, they suffered under Hamas…If the UN agency cannot be a trusted deliverer, the good news there are other NGOs that are…who have a good track record…We need to increase the pace, increase the volume and get more aid to Gazans.”
• On strikes against the Houthis, Sen. Kaine said he doesn’t have a problem with us defending Red Sea shipping, etc., but that there should be Congressional authorization for use of military force.