The U.S. Senate on Tuesday voted to advance a $95 billion aid package for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, which would send it to the White House for President Joe Biden to ratify into law.
The Senate voted by an overwhelming 80 to 19 in favor of advancing the package of four bills passed by the House, far more than the 60 needed to pave the way for a vote on final passage.
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U.S. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnel speaks to reporters after Senate approves military aid to Israel, Ukraine, Taiwan
(Photo: Andrew Harnik / Getty Images)
One of the bills provided $61 billion for Ukraine, a second $26 billion for Israel, and a third $8.12 billion "to counter communist China." A fourth includes a potential ban on the social media app TikTok, measures for the transfer of seized Russian assets to Ukraine and new sanctions on Iran.
Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, a strong advocate for assisting Ukraine, expressed regret about the delay, largely due to hardline Republicans' objections to adding more to the $113 billion Washington had authorized for Kyiv since Russia began its full-scale invasion in February 2022.
"I think we've turned the corner on the isolationist movement," McConnell told a news conference.
Biden has vowed to sign it into law as soon as it passes the Senate.