Senate Passes $95B Foreign Aid Package For Ukraine, and Israel

US Senate passes $95B foreign aid package for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan after it was approved by 79-18.

The Senate approved a package of $95 billion in foreign aid for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan on Tuesday night, a bipartisan victory that had been in the works for months.

Thirty-one Republicans joined with 48 Democrats to pass the legislation. That’s nine more Republicans than supported the aid package when it was last debated in the Senate in February.

Two Democrats, Sens. Merkley and Welch, as well as independent Sen. Bernie Sanders, voted against the bill, along with 15 Republicans.

The legislation, which includes four bills, was passed by the House over the weekend with bipartisan approval.

The package is now on its way to President Joe Biden’s desk, where he has stated that he plans to sign it tomorrow.

President Biden’s Thought On The Package

“[A] bipartisan majority in the Senate joined the House to answer history’s call at this critical inflection point,” said President Joe Biden in a statement. “Congress has passed my legislation to strengthen our national security and send a message to the world about the power of American leadership: we are steadfastly committed to democracy and freedom, and we oppose tyranny and oppression.”

The package includes approximately $26 billion for Israel, which is currently at war with Hamas in Gaza; $61 billion for Ukraine; and $8 billion for Indo-Pacific allies. A fourth bill would force the United States to ban TikTok if its Chinese parent company refused to sell it; impose sanctions on Russia, China, and Iran; and seize Russian assets to assist Ukraine in rebuilding from the war’s damage.

During a lengthy press conference following the procedural vote, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell stated that he believes his party is beginning to reverse the isolationist trends that he has fought against. He acknowledged that his party’s isolationist streak remains, but he believes progress has been made.

The Thoughts Of McConnell

“If you’re looking for a trend, I think it’s a trend in the direction that I would like to see us go, which is America steps up to its leadership role in the world and does what it needs to do,” McConnell said in a statement.

He considered the groundswell of GOP support a victory.

In anticipation of the bill’s passage, the Biden administration has prepared a $1 billion military assistance package for Ukraine, with the first shipment expected within days of approval, a US official revealed on Tuesday.

The package will include much-needed artillery rounds, air defense ammunition, and armored vehicles, according to the official. The weapons and equipment will be sourced from existing US stockpiles under presidential drawdown authority (PDA).

It has been more than a year since Congress approved new assistance to Ukraine in its fight against Russian invaders. The war has escalated in recent weeks, with more Russian strikes breaking through and Ukraine’s air defenses running low.

President Biden spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday to reiterate the United States’ support for the country. Zelenskyy thanked Biden for his “unwavering support for Ukraine and true global leadership.”