Washington DC: In a significant bipartisan effort, the US Senate has successfully passed a $95 billion aid package aimed at providing support to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, according to CNN.
This accomplishment marks a crucial victory for President Joe Biden, congressional Democrats, and Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell, who has been a vocal advocate for aiding Ukraine despite some reluctance within his own party.
The comprehensive package, awaiting President Biden’s signature, consolidates four bills that previously encountered obstacles in both chambers of Congress. This legislative achievement follows a rare Saturday session in the House, where nearly $61 billion in aid for Ukraine, over $26 billion for Israel, and more than $8 billion for the Indo-Pacific region were approved.
Notable provisions in the package include measures to escalate sanctions on Russian assets and potential actions against the popular social media platform TikTok. Under the bill, Chinese parent company ByteDance faces a nine-month ultimatum to divest from TikTok or risk a ban from American app stores, a move aimed at safeguarding national security interests.
Senate GOP leader McConnell expressed optimism about the bill’s prospects, underscoring his pivotal role in shepherding the legislation through the Senate despite internal divisions within his party. House Speaker Mike Johnson faced challenges from conservative factions opposed to providing aid to Ukraine. However, bipartisan negotiations ultimately secured broad support for the legislation in the House.
The road to delivering aid to Ukraine and Israel encountered hurdles, with House and Senate Republicans initially insisting on addressing border security concerns before proceeding with foreign aid. Former President Donald Trump’s opposition further complicated negotiations, prompting Republicans to abandon the border package altogether.
McConnell emphasized the importance of upholding American leadership and global responsibilities, describing the Senate’s action as “overdue” and “a test, and we must not fail it.” He stressed the significance of healthy alliances in lightening the burden of global responsibilities.
