The Senate advanced a package to provide billions in aid to Israel, Ukraine, and Taiwan with a final tally of 80-19, passing a crucial procedural vote with bipartisan support. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer expressed satisfaction following the vote, marking the end of six long months of political battles. The senators’ final debate clock has now begun, and the legislation is on track to become law after a final vote. President Joe Biden has indicated that he will sign the package into law once it passes the Senate, following approval from the House, which passed the bills as separate entities last Saturday. The bill includes approximately $60 billion for Ukraine aid, $26 billion for Israel, and $8 billion for Taiwan and Indo-Pacific security.
The legislation, which includes a provision to force ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, to sell the social media platform or face a national ban, has faced pushback from TikTok. The company has stated that it would pursue a legal challenge if the bill were to be signed into law. TikTok and ByteDance have already spent over $7 million on lobbying and advertisements to prevent the legislation from passing. The foreign aid package has been the center of deep GOP infighting, with House Republicans threatening to oust House Speaker Mike Johnson over the passage of the aid bill. Despite these threats, Johnson decided to end the stalemate last week following an attempted attack by Iran on April 13, which renewed bipartisan pressure to move on the funding.
Former President Donald Trump has publicly expressed support for Johnson, providing him with some insurance as the House Speaker faces challenges from within his own party. Johnson has faced threats from Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene and others within the GOP, but has so far managed to navigate the political landscape surrounding the foreign aid package. The legislation has been the subject of heated debates in Congress since Biden first proposed it in October. The bill includes various foreign policy proposals in addition to the aid funding, making it a significant piece of legislation with broad implications for international relations. The passage of the bill through the Senate marks a significant step forward in providing crucial aid to countries like Israel, Ukraine, and Taiwan.
