Senate Considers $95 Billion Foreign Aid Package for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan

The Senate has begun consideration of a $95 billion foreign aid package for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, which passed the House with bipartisan support over the weekend. President Joe Biden is urging the Senate to quickly advance the measures to his desk.

The package includes $26 billion for Israel, $61 billion for Ukraine, and $8 billion for allies in the Indo-Pacific. Additionally, a fourth bill would force a U.S. ban of TikTok if its Chinese parent company doesn’t sell it, impose sanctions on Russia, China, and Iran, and seize Russian assets to help Ukraine rebuild from the war’s damage.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer emphasized the importance of passing the aid package quickly, stating that “the time has come to finish the job to help our friends abroad once and for all.” Schumer praised the House passage of the bills as a “watershed moment for the defense of democracy” and announced that the Senate would cut its recess short to hold its first vote on advancing the proposals.

Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell also spoke in support of the aid package, highlighting the United States’ global responsibilities, including helping Ukraine in its fight against Russia. Senator Bernie Sanders called for the Senate to strip offensive military aid to Israel from the package amid humanitarian suffering in Gaza.

It has been more than a year since Congress approved new aid for Ukraine, and the war has intensified in recent weeks. President Biden spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to reiterate U.S. support for the nation, promising new support once the bills pass through Congress.

The aid package has faced challenges in the past, with opposition from some lawmakers, but pressure increased after recent attacks on Israel by Iran and Russian advances. Speaker Mike Johnson, who initially opposed more aid for Ukraine, reversed his stance and earned bipartisan praise for his support.

Overall, the aid package aims to provide crucial support to allies in need and strengthen U.S. relationships abroad. The Senate is expected to pass the bills sometime this week.