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Washington, D.C. — In case you missed it, Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet joined CBS Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan yesterday to urge Congress to come together to pass funding for Ukraine, Israel, Gaza and Southeast Asia, as well as to discuss the ongoing bipartisan negotiations on the southern border.

On supplemental funding negotiations, Bennet said:

“I think we have had good conversations over the last several days and before that... I believe, of course, that the Ukrainian people have earned a vote to support them without a negotiation on the U.S. border, but there are others in the Senate who feel differently and we're trying to see if we can get to a solution.”

“We're running out of time in 2023. I've literally talked to Leader Schumer almost every day except Thanksgiving and his birthday over the course of this holiday weekend. I've had the chance to talk to Democrats and Republicans individually – everybody knows what's at stake here and everybody knows how short the time is... 

“Congress has a lot of work to do. That's true. For once we should do that work instead of playing politics, the stakes are just too high.”

On the need to continue to support Ukraine, Bennet said:

“The United States, I think, has an obligation to continue to support them in this fight – not just for Ukraine, but a fight for democracy – and I don't know whether the House will come to the conclusion that that's enough for them. So we're continuing to see if there's something we can do on the border. My view is [that] there's always room to make our immigration system better on behalf of the American people, and I hope people of good faith can come together and reach a solution.”

“The point I'm trying to make is that whether we succeed or not, in terms of getting to that agreement, this Ukraine funding has to happen for the sake of democracy and for the sake of the Western world. Putin believes he could lose on the battlefield in Ukraine. The battlefield he's trying to win on is the battlefield on Capitol Hill, and Democrats and Republicans have got to come together to make sure that doesn't happen.”

On support for Israel’s fight against Hamas terrorists, Bennet said:

“It's critical that everybody understand that Hamas is a terrorist organization, that Israel has to defend itself, that it's been made much more difficult because of Hamas' use of civilians as human shields, and that it is incumbent on Israel, notwithstanding that difficult issue, to meet the highest standard. 

“That's critically important for Israel to make sure that they kill as few civilians as possible as they defend themselves against Hamas, and that they subscribe to the rule of law.”