Ukraine sympathizers fly a Ukrainian flag outdoors because the Senate works by means of the weekend on a $95.3 billion international help invoice with help for Ukraine and Israel on the U.S. Capitol on February 11, 2024 in Washington, DC.
Roberto Schmidt | Getty Pictures
The U.S. Senate voted early Tuesday to approve a $95 billion help bundle offering funds for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, however its future stays unsure amid intense lawmaker opposition.
The bundle contains $61 billion for Ukraine, $14 billion for Israel and $4.83 billion to assist companions within the Indo-Pacific, together with Taiwan, together with services for humanitarian help.
The invoice handed by 70-29 votes within the Democrat-led legislature on Tuesday, with Sen. Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.) abstaining.
Solely two Democratic senators voted in opposition to the measures, alongside impartial Sen. Bernie Sanders, who has said his opposition to unconditional help for Israel.
The invoice should nonetheless be authorized by the Republican-led Home of Representatives earlier than changing into legislation. It faces stringent opposition from many within the GOP, who’ve pushed for the inclusion of funding for home safety on the southern border.
Home Speaker Mike Johnson on Monday mentioned that the most recent iteration of the invoice had failed to fulfill these calls for, including it “ought to have gone again to the drafting board… to incorporate actual border safety provisions that will really held finish the continuing disaster.”
“As an alternative, the Senate’s international help invoice is silent on probably the most urgent situation going through our nation,” he mentioned in a press release on the time, including that “the Home should proceed to work its personal will on these necessary issues.”
U.S. President Joe Biden and his prime officers have harassed that approving funds is essential to uphold Washington’s worldwide obligations and to guard home safety.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Tuesday thanked Senate Majority Chief Chuck Schumer, Senate Republican Chief Mitch McConnell and all of the senators who backed the invoice.
“For us in Ukraine, continued US help helps to save lots of human lives from Russian terror. It signifies that life will proceed in our cities and can overcome conflict,” he mentioned on the X social media platform.
Schumer mentioned the Senate was “telling Putin he’ll remorse the day he questioned America’s resolve.”
“With the passage of this nationwide safety invoice, the Senate is sending a transparent bipartisan message of resolve to our allies in NATO,” he mentioned.
