A narrowly divided US Senate moved closer to passing a US$95.34 billion aid package for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan on Sunday, showing undiminished bipartisanship despite opposition from Republican hardliners and Donald Trump.
The Democrat-led Senate voted 67-27 in a rare Sunday session to clear the latest procedural hurdle and moved the foreign aid measure toward an ultimate vote on passage in the coming days.
Ahead of Sunday’s vote, Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell chided those who he said would disregard US global interests, bemoan American leadership and lament international commitments.
“This is idle work for idle minds, and it has no place in the United States Senate,” McConnell said. “American leadership matters. And it is in question.”
The next Senate action is expected on Monday evening, when lawmakers will hold two procedural votes: one to adopt the foreign aid package as an amendment to an underlying House bill; and a second to limit debate ahead of a final vote on passage, which could come on Wednesday, according to aides.
US Senate advances US$95 billion Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan aid bill
US Senate advances US$95 billion Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan aid bill
It also would provide US$9.15 billion in humanitarian help to civilians in Gaza and the West Bank, Ukraine and other conflict zones around the globe.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, who has a slim 219-212 Republican majority, has indicated that he could try to split the aid provisions into separate measures once the bill arrives from the Senate.
But a stand-alone aid bill for Israel fell victim in the House last week to opposition from Democrats who favour the broader Senate legislation and from hardline Republicans who wanted compensating spending cuts, in a pair of humiliating defeats for Johnson.
During a visit to Kyiv on Friday, a bipartisan delegation of House lawmakers vowed to do their part to pass the measure.
US Republicans defeat Senate border deal, but Ukraine, Israel aid may survive
US Republicans defeat Senate border deal, but Ukraine, Israel aid may survive
Senate Republicans believe bipartisan passage would help stir support among Republicans in the House.
“It will shape the environment such that … more Republicans will feel comfortable advancing the bill,” Senator Todd Young, an Indiana Republican, told reporters.
Republican support for the measure could grow and the pace of progress could quicken if Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and his Republican counterpart, Mitch McConnell, can reach an agreement allowing votes on Republican amendments.
But some Republicans who oppose further aid to Ukraine have vowed to delay consideration by forcing the Senate to comply with a labyrinth of time-consuming parliamentary rules.