In an early Tuesday morning vote, the US Senate approved a $95.3 billion foreign aid package that includes help for Israel and war-torn Ukraine. Among other goals, the foreign aid package includes billions of dollars for Israel’s security, humanitarian relief to civilians in Gaza, the West Bank, and Ukraine, as well as support for Ukraine. US Speaker Mike Johnson has criticized the bill. The legislation will now be submitted to the Republican-controlled House of Representatives, where it has little chance of becoming law.
The lawmakers approved the measure in a 70-29 vote that exceeded the chamber’s 60-vote threshold for passage and sent the legislation on to the House. Twenty-two Republicans joined most Democrats to support the bill. “It’s certainly been years, perhaps decades, since the Senate has passed a bill that so greatly impacts not just our national security, not just the security of our allies, but the security of Western democracy,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said.
The Senate voted before daylight, following a nocturnal marathon of remarks by eight hardline Republican opponents of Ukraine aid
The Senate voted before daylight, following a nocturnal marathon of remarks by eight hardline Republican opponents of Ukraine aid, which dominated the chamber floor for more than six hours. Democratic President Joe Biden has been asking Congress to expedite new funding to Ukraine and US Indo-Pacific partners, particularly Taiwan, for months. Following Hamas’ October 7 attack on Israel, he sought cash for the US ally, as well as humanitarian relief for Palestinians in Gaza. Ukrainian officials have also warned of weaponry shortages, as Russia continues to launch attacks.
Before Biden can sign the proposal into law, both chambers of Congress must first approve it. Schumer said he believes the legislation would garner the same strong bipartisan support if it were put to a vote in the House. However, the bill appears to have a long shot of making it to the House floor, where Republican Speaker Mike Johnson criticized it for lacking conservative elements to halt the record flow of migrants across the US-Mexico border.
