House Speaker John Boehner's office said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid "sounds completely unhinged" after Reid charged that
Republicans are partly to blame for Russia's invasion of Crimea.
"The House has acted, and is continuing to act, in a reasonable and responsible way to give the White House the tools it needs to hold President Putin accountable," Boehner spokesman Michael Steel told
Talking Points Memo on Monday.
Outlining the Senate's agenda after a one-week recess, the Nevada Democrat said the first item would be the Ukraine bill that Republicans blocked just before lawmakers went on break.
Reid urged Republicans to consider "how their obstruction affects United States' national security as well as the people of Ukraine" and said their delay of any congressional action "sent a dangerous message to Russian leaders."
"Since a few Republicans blocked these important sanctions last work period, Russian lawmakers voted to annex Crimea, and Russian forces have taken over Ukrainian military bases," Reid said. "It's impossible to know whether events would have unfolded differently if the United States had responded to Russian aggression with a strong, unified voice."
Reid's office did not respond to Steel's comment.
The Senate voted 78-17 Monday to break a Republican filibuster, advancing the aid package.
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