The Senate has advanced a $95 billion foreign aid package, which includes assistance for Israel, Ukraine, and Taiwan, as well as a requirement for TikTok to divest from Chinese-owned ByteDance and the REPO Act which would transfer $5 billion in Russian assets held in U.S. banks to Ukraine. Majority Leader Chuck Schumer promised to move quickly to get the package across the finish line, urging fellow senators not to delay the process. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell called passage of the foreign aid bills “overdue” and emphasized the importance of not failing the test the Senate faces. President Biden had first requested additional aid to U.S. allies in October 2023.
The Senate initially passed a foreign aid package to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan in February, but there were delays in moving the measure to a House vote by House Speaker Mike Johnson. When the aid was ultimately brought to a vote in the lower chamber, it was a different version, necessitating the bills to be sent back to the Senate before reaching Biden for approval. Despite some pushback from senators such as Mike Lee and Bernie Sanders, who have reservations about the aid to Ukraine and Israel respectively, the opposition does not seem to be enough to threaten the bills’ passage.
The Senate passed the procedural hurdle for the foreign aid package with a vote of 81 to 19 after the House had already approved the bills on Saturday. Schumer’s urging to expedite the process was heeded, with Republicans and Democrats coming together to advance the package. The aid package includes support for countries like Israel, Ukraine, and Taiwan, as well as measures aimed at addressing issues such as TikTok’s ownership and transferring Russian assets to Ukraine. The urgency of getting the aid to U.S. allies was emphasized by leaders in both parties.
The aid package, which includes assistance for Israel, Ukraine, and Taiwan, faced delays in the House before being sent back to the Senate with changes that needed approval. While some senators have expressed reservations about aspects of the package, such as continued aid to Ukraine and Israel, the opposition is not widespread enough to jeopardize the bills’ passage. Schumer and McConnell both stressed the importance of moving quickly to provide support to U.S. allies and avoid further delays in the approval process. President Biden had initially requested additional aid for U.S. allies in October 2023.
The opposition to the foreign aid package comes from senators on both sides of the aisle, with concerns raised about the amount of aid already given to Ukraine and the ongoing assistance to Israel. Despite these reservations, the bipartisan support for the package indicates that it is likely to pass without major obstacles. Schumer’s call to avoid prolonging the process and to act swiftly in providing aid to U.S. allies was met with bipartisan cooperation in advancing the package through the Senate. The urgency of delivering aid to countries like Israel, Ukraine, and Taiwan was underscored by leaders in both parties.
