Senate leaders said Tuesday that a deal to provide more aid to Ukraine and strengthen U.S. border security is unlikely to be reached anytime soon. A decision will likely be delayed until January, according to Sen. Dick Durbin.
“My hope is that they’ll get the piece together, sit down, roll up their sleeves and get the job done as soon as we get back in January,” Durbin told reporters.
Republican and Democratic negotiators worked to pass the funding package before going on vacation at the end of the year.
The top Democrat and Republican in the upper house of Congress said the talks were productive but that they would not be concluded any time soon.
“Everyone understands that we have a lot more work to do, and it will take more time,” said Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.
Republican Minority Leader Mitch McConnell noted that those involved in the process are “making slow and steady progress.”
Members of the Republican-majority House of Representatives have already gone on recess and it is unclear whether they will return if the Democratic-controlled Senate passes the funding package.
