US SENATE APPROVES LONG-DELAYED UKRAINE, ISRAEL FOREIGN AID PACKAGE

Tue 13 February 2024:

The US Senate has passed a $95 billion bill containing aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan.

The long-delayed measure won approval from the upper house early on Tuesday. The legislation will now head to the Republican-controlled House of Representatives, where its chances of becoming law are slim.

The bill, which would open the way for desperately needed funding to go to Ukraine as it fights Russia’s invasion, has been delayed for months by Republican hardliners under the influence of former US President Donald Trump.

However, a bipartisan push supported by dozens of moderates from party helped it across the line in a rare all-session in the Democrat-controlled Senate. The vote saw more than a dozen Republicans voting with Democrats to pass the package 70-29.

However, several right-wing Republican lawmakers in Congress have already vowed to block the bill. They insist that the $60bn tranche allocated to Ukraine should be spent instead on domestic issues such as border security.

House Speaker Mike Johnson has made it clear that it could be weeks or months before Congress sends the legislation to President Joe Biden’s desk.

Supporters argue that abandoning Ukraine will embolden Russia, and risk a wider pushback of global democracy.

‘Crack the champagne’

Still, getting the package approved became a slog this week as Sen. Rand Paul, a Kentucky Republican, slowed the bill’s march toward passage at every opportunity.

Paul took to the floor on Monday to filibuster the bill, warning in a lengthy floor speech that “they will take the $60 billion to Kyiv, crack the champagne,” while the U.S.-Mexico border sees an influx of migration.

“We have a disaster at our southern border and ranking Republicans and the ranking Democrats — there is no difference, they’re on the same team — they’ll be on the same plane to Kyiv,” Paul said.

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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