The Senate passed a $95 billion foreign aid package on Tuesday evening, a critical move that will provide military supplies to Ukraine in its fight against Russian invasion and to Israel in its conflict with Hamas. The bill, which had faced GOP in-fighting in the House, was approved by a bipartisan coalition in the Senate by a 79-18 margin.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell called it “an extremely important day in the history of our country and of the free world,” emphasizing the significance of the aid to Ukraine and Israel. The bill includes $60 billion in aid to Ukraine, $26 billion to Israel, and $8 billion to the Indo-Pacific, along with provisions for a potential ban on TikTok if it does not divest from its Chinese parent company.
Despite some initial opposition, the bill gained momentum as former naysayers, including several Republicans, flipped their votes to support it. However, Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas voted against the bill, citing the lack of provisions for the southern border as his reason.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer urged his colleagues to pass the bill quickly to provide aid to allies abroad. McConnell criticized the delay in resuming aid to Ukraine, stating that it has strained efforts to defeat Russian aggression. The passage of this aid package marks a significant step in supporting Ukraine and Israel in their ongoing conflicts.