Senate Prepares for Key Vote on Ukraine Aid as Biden Reaffirms Support
Foreign aid totaling billions of dollars for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan moved forward in the U.S. Senate on Tuesday following approval by the House of Representatives. The House broke a months-long stalemate and passed the assistance in a rare Saturday session.
With voting ongoing, the Senate voted 72 to 13 to advance the package of bills, surpassing the 60 votes needed to proceed to a final passage vote, potentially as soon as Tuesday or Wednesday.
The bills include $61 billion for Ukraine, $26 billion for Israel, $8.12 billion to counter communist China in the Indo-Pacific, and provisions related to TikTok, seized Russian assets, and sanctions on Iran. President Joe Biden has pledged to sign the legislation into law once it passes the Senate.
The administration is reportedly preparing a $1 billion military aid package for Ukraine, with the funds coming from the bill. This aid is expected to boost Ukrainian forces against Russian invaders.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Republican leader Mitch McConnell both emphasized the importance of supporting allies and the potential consequences of failing to do so.
The aid package may be the last one approved for Ukraine until after the November elections in which the White House, House of Representatives, and one-third of the Senate are up for election.
The impact of the aid package on the conflict in Gaza is uncertain, as Israel already receives significant annual security assistance from the U.S. The package includes humanitarian aid aimed at assisting Palestinians in Gaza.
Key points in the bill include security aid for Ukraine, Israel, and the Indo-Pacific. President Biden assured Ukrainian President Zelenskiy of new security assistance once the spending bills are signed into law.
The legislation’s progress is of interest to defense firms with potential contracts to supply equipment to Ukraine and other partners. The funding for Ukraine includes $8 billion in Presidential Drawdown Authority to allow the transfer of equipment from U.S. stocks.
The House and Senate votes on the aid package reflect bipartisan support for providing assistance to Ukraine, Israel, and other countries facing geopolitical challenges. The funding is crucial for strengthening alliances and boosting national security.
© 2024 Thomson/Reuters. All rights reserved.
