The Democrat-controlled Senate on Tuesday approved and is now making the final pass for the Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan supplemental aid package, which advanced last week in the House.
Overwhelmingly, senators, including 29 Republicans, voted to keep the aid to $95 billion, which would be an astounding $61 billion for Ukraine, $26 billion for Israel, and $8 billion for Taiwan, reported The Hill. It would also include alleged national security items like a possible TikTok ban but zero dollars for the southern border.
Very pleased that the United States Senate overwhelmingly voted to move forward on the assistance package for Ukraine, Taiwan, and Israel.
➡️ Israel is in a fight for their very existence. They need support and they need it now.
➡️ It is better to help Ukraine fight the Russian…
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) April 23, 2024
A final vote will occur as early as Tuesday if both parties yield time. If not it would be set to occur on Wednesday night. According to The Hill, both parties have tried to amend the four-bill package.
It is expected that Democrats will widely accept the bills for passage and about half of the Republicans, putting it over the necessary amount of votes. Tuesday’s vote saw Senate Republicans who were against the previous bill vote to advance the package, reported The Hill. They include Sens. Katie Britt, Ala., Deb Fischer, Neb., Tom Cotton, Ark., Lindsey Graham, S.C., James Lankford, Okla., Cindy Hyde-Smith, Miss., Pete Ricketts, Neb., Markwayne Mullin, Okla., and Tim Scott, S.C. It was also reported that Sen. Peter Welch, D-Vt., voted in favor of cloture after voting against the previous package.
It has been approximately two years since Kyiv received US taxpayer funding, and now, after the Democrats thwarted Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., it will get paid once again. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., boasted:
Today, the Senate sits for a test on behalf of the entire nation. It’s a test of American resolve, our readiness, and our willingness to lead. And the stakes of failure are abundantly clear. Failure to help Ukraine stand against Russian aggression now means inviting escalation against our closest treaty allies and trading partners.
Republicans claimed not to move forward with the aid to Ukraine unless it included a border package. Lankford, Sens. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., and Krysten Sinema, I-Ariz., pushed a bipartisan bill in February that was subpar and crushed by Republicans along with former President Donald Trump, reported The Hill.
"I think we've turned the corner on the isolationist movement."
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell speaks about the advance of the foreign aid package. pic.twitter.com/w7qBsnMnUT
— NEWSMAX (@NEWSMAX) April 23, 2024
Still, nearly 30 Senate Republicans voted for the package’s passage. McConnell used this as a chance to rebuff conservative isolationists of America First:
So much of the hesitation and shortsightedness that has delayed this moment is premised on sheer fiction. And I take no pleasure in rebutting misguided fantasies. I wish, sincerely, that recognizing the responsibilities of American leadership was the price of admission for serious conversations about the future of our national security.
Make no mistake: Delay in providing Ukraine the weapons to defend itself has strained the prospects of defeating Russian aggression. Dithering and hesitation have compounded the challenges we face.
Speaker Johnson Ignores Border to Pass Supplemental Foreign Aid Bills
The $95 billion in supplemental aid was pigeoned as a win for “national security” but may have been a mere necessity for career politicians to keep their lobbyists at bay. Politicians nor the media have not noted any future appropriations for the southern border, focusing solely on the foreign entities the taxpayer just fronted.
