Schumer Vows Senate Will Stay in Session to Approve Foreign Aid

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., announced Friday that senators will be working through the weekend to pass funding for Ukraine and Israel, along with other bills.

Speaking on the Senate floor, Schumer confirmed that reauthorization of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act warrantless surveillance program is also on the agenda, with a deadline of 11:59 p.m.

“We’re still working on finding a path to quickly pass this bill,” Schumer stated. “But there are disagreements on how to proceed, so we will continue to work at it. Reauthorizing FISA is crucial for our national security.”

Schumer emphasized the importance of swift action once the House passes the foreign aid, to get it to President Joe Biden for approval.

“I urge the House to act quickly on this, as delays in national security funding have had serious consequences for Americans and our allies,” Schumer added.

Zelenskyy of Ukraine informed Schumer that additional aid is essential for Ukraine to combat Russia effectively.

The House has advanced a rule to begin floor debates on the foreign aid bills with a vote of 316-94. Apart from aid to Israel and Ukraine, the package includes support for Taiwan, the Indo-Pacific region, and the REPO Act, which allocates funds to Ukraine using assets seized from the Central Bank of the Russian Federation.

The need for Democratic support to pass the aid package has sparked criticism towards House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., with calls for his ouster from Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., and Thomas Massie, R-Ky.

Another border security bill will also be up for a vote, independent of the aid package.

Last week, the House passed a bill reauthorizing Section 702 to prevent a lapse in FISA, although a provision to end warrantless surveillance of Americans did not pass.

Despite FISA’s prohibition on targeting Americans, concerns have been raised about warrantless wiretapping by Senators Jon Testa, D-Mont., Mike Lee, R-Utah, Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Rand Paul, R-Ky.