The $95 billion foreign aid package, which will provide military assistance to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, was approved by the U.S. House of Representatives with bipartisan support, despite some conservative backlash. The aid bill allocated roughly $61 billion to Ukraine, with a significant portion dedicated to purchasing weapons to aid in the fight against Russian forces. The package also includes economic assistance through forgivable loans. In addition, $23.2 billion is designated for replenishing weapons and ammunition systems for the U.S. military. However, due to opposition from some House Republicans, no aid package has been sent to Kyiv since December, allowing Russia to capitalize on dwindling Ukrainian ammunition.
Israel will receive approximately $26 billion in aid to support humanitarian relief efforts and replenish missile defense systems. A significant portion of the aid will go towards humanitarian assistance in Gaza, where a conflict between Israel and Hamas has led to a high death toll, particularly among civilians. The war, which was sparked by a raid into southern Israel by Hamas and other militant groups, has resulted in thousands of Palestinian deaths and numerous international protests. Critics have accused the Israeli government of war crimes, leading to calls for U.S. lawmakers to reconsider providing aid to Israel.
A portion of the aid package, around $8 billion, is designated for U.S. allies in the Indo-Pacific region, particularly Taiwan, to counter China’s influence. Funding will go towards submarine infrastructure and development, as well as replenishing weapons provided to Taiwan and other allies in the region. Despite some opposition from far-right lawmakers who advocated for increased security at the U.S.-Mexico border instead, the aid package passed in the House with support from both Democrats and Republicans. Pro-Palestinian demonstrators protested outside the U.S. Capitol building before the vote, expressing concerns about the allocation of aid to Israel.
President Joe Biden praised the House’s passage of the aid package, emphasizing its importance in advancing national security interests. He urged the Senate to quickly send the legislation to his desk for approval. The aid package also includes provisions that could potentially ban the popular social media platform TikTok in the U.S. Russian officials criticized the decision, warning of global repercussions and accusing the U.S. of further destabilizing the situation in Ukraine. The aid package now moves to the Senate for approval, where it is expected to pass this week before reaching President Biden for signing.
