Senate Passes Historic Aid Package For Ukraine, Israel, And Taiwan Amid Bipartisan Struggle

In a significant development, the Senate on Tuesday finally passed a long-awaited $95 billion aid package, marking a crucial bipartisan victory after months of struggles on both sides of Capitol Hill to provide assistance to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan.

The final vote count stood at 79-18, with fifteen Republicans and three Democrats opposing the bill, while forty-eight Democrats and thirty-one Republicans voted in favor.

Following its passage in the Senate, the legislation now awaits President Joe Biden's signature, who has confirmed his intention to sign the package into law on Wednesday. This victory underscores a united effort by the US president, congressional Democrats, and Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell, who have persistently advocated for aid to Ukraine despite growing dissent within the Republican Party regarding support for Kyiv.

Ahead of the final passage, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer expressed a sense of relief, stating, “finally, finally, finally.” He emphasized, “Tonight, may Vladimir Putin regret the day he questioned American resolve.”

The package consolidates four bills that the House had previously voted on separately during a rare Saturday session. It allocates nearly $61 billion in aid for Ukraine, over $26 billion for Israel, and more than $8 billion for the Indo-Pacific region. Notably, the first three bills closely resemble the package previously passed by the Senate earlier in the year, which House Speaker Mike Johnson had initially resisted bringing to the House floor.

The fourth bill imposes sanctions on Russian assets and includes provisions that could potentially lead to a ban on TikTok in the US. It mandates ByteDance, TikTok's Chinese parent company, to divest its ownership within nine months, failing which the app would face prohibition from American app stores.

President Biden welcomed the Senate's approval of the legislation, affirming, “I will sign this bill into law... so we can begin sending weapons and equipment to Ukraine this week.” Stressing the urgency of the situation, he highlighted the critical need for aid to Ukraine, Israel, and other regions grappling with conflicts and natural disasters.

The House took up the legislation following Johnson's departure from the conservative stance within his party, which had opposed aid to Ukraine. Despite initial resistance, the bill garnered broad bipartisan support upon its passage in the House.

Efforts to deliver aid to Ukraine and Israel had been delayed due to Republican demands for action on border security, leading to prolonged negotiations in the Senate. However, former President Donald Trump's opposition to the final deal resulted in its abandonment by Republicans.

McConnell, who has consistently diverged from his party on supporting Ukraine, described the Senate's vote as “overdue” and emphasized the importance of fulfilling global responsibilities.

Following the successful passage of the foreign aid legislation, Schumer expressed satisfaction, highlighting the importance of bipartisan cooperation in achieving legislative goals.

While defending the decision not to entertain amendments, Schumer underscored the urgency of passing the bill swiftly. He also justified the inclusion of TikTok-related legislation as essential to the broader supplemental bill.

In a gesture of solidarity, Schumer relayed a message to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, urging him to continue the fight for his country's interests.

Zelensky, in turn, expressed gratitude to the US Senate for approving vital aid to Ukraine, emphasizing its significance in bolstering the country's defense capabilities. He hailed the vote as a testament to America's commitment to democracy and global leadership.