President Biden’s drive to send more aid to Ukraine took a big step forward, as the Senate Passed a $95.3 billion Package on Tuesday, that also includes Funds for Allies Israel and Taiwan, overcoming the Objections of many Republicans, who opposed spending so much money abroad.
The Senate’s Approval of the Measure on a 70-29 Vote, comes at a critical moment for Ukraine, which has been running short of Supplies and Manpower.
Twenty-Two Republicans joined almost All Democrats in supporting the Bill. Three Members of the Democratic Caucus, who have expressed concerns about Israel’s Military Operations in Gaza Voted No.
Passage occurred around 6:30 a.m. after Opponents Delayed the Vote with a Marathon night of Floor Speeches.
“It’s been a long night, a long weekend and a long few months, but a new day is here,” said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY). “With this bill, the Senate declares that American leadership will not waver, will not falter, will not fail.”
The Bill now goes to the GOP-controlled House, where it faces an uncertain fate, because of the greater Power of Ukraine Skeptics and Influence of Trump, who has Opposed more Aid and recently suggested turning the Aid Package into a Loan.
Some Lawmakers are demanding a Crackdown on the U.S. Border as a Condition for any Aid, relitigating demands from last year. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA, 4th District) has Criticized the Senate Aid Bill, for lacking Border Provisions but has kept His Options Open.
Proponents of the Senate Bill, who included both Schumer and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), argued the U.S. risks its own Security and the current Global Order, if it turns Inward and ignores the Rise of Authoritarian Forces around the World. They painted the Vote in Stark Terms.
“History settles every account,” said McConnell, who has taken barbs from His Right flank, for His persistent support of Ukraine. Today, He said, “history will record that the Senate did not blink.”
Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT, who isn’t running for Re-Election, called the Ukraine Measure “the most important vote we will ever take as U.S. senators.” He said that letting Ukraine fall would have ripple effects around the Globe, opening the door for Russia to ultimately Invade a NATO Ally and Sending a signal to China that the U.S. wouldn’t stand up against a Takeover of Taiwan.
Sen. Jerry Moran (R-KS), choked up when He acknowledged that His Constituents might Not agree with His support for the Aid package, but He felt it was a rare moment in His Career when His Vote truly mattered. “I believe in America First, but unfortunately America First means we have to engage in the world,” Moran said. America’s Enemies are on the march, He said, adding, “It’s always easier, I suppose, to look the other way.”
But Republican Opponents described continued Aid for the War efforts as Folly, arguing that America doesn’t have the Resources to keep supporting Kyiv, or that Russian President Vladimir Putin would prevail anyway.
Other GOP Opponents insisted that the U.S. needed to better Secure its own Border before providing more Aid Overseas, trying to Restart a Legislative Fight that stalled out last week after Republicans, including Johnson, Rejected as Inadequate a Bipartisan Compromise devised by Sens. James Lankford (R-OK), Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ) and Chris Murphy (D-CT).
Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) called the Bill “the middle finger to every working man and woman in America.” He said that it tells Americans, “We don’t care about you. We care more about Ukraine than we care about our southern border.”
“If you’re concerned about the Ukrainian people, you ought to do everything you can to bring this war to an end,” said Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI), who Opposed the Bill. “Again, that’s not to say I’m supporting Putin. He’s an evil war criminal. But he will not lose, he’s not going to lose. And at some point in time, people here need to recognize that reality.”
Congress took Four Votes to appropriate more than $110 billion for Ukraine in 2022, when Democrats controlled both Chambers and the White House, but provided No Money for Ukraine last year, once Republicans won the House. The New Aid package would contain the Largest Single Infusion of Aid to Ukraine since the Russian Invasion, providing about $60 billion related to Ukraine, with much of that available through Sept. 30, 2025.
That includes some $20 billion to Replenish U.S. Stockpiles drawn down during earlier rounds of Support to Ukraine, and $13.8 billion to help Ukraine buy Weapons and Munitions from the U.S. It also includes $7.85 billion to help sustain Ukraine’s Government, a Reduction from the $11.8 billion requested by the Biden Administration, and a Prohibition on using the Funds to cover Pensions for Ukrainians.
The Bill also includes $14.1 billion for Israel, both for Missile-Defense systems and to help Israel finance other Weaponry, and $9.15 billion to provide Food, Water, and other Humanitarian Aid in Hot Spots including Gaza, the West Bank and Ukraine. It provides $2.4 billion to support U.S. Operations related to Attacks by the Houthis on Global Shipping Operations in the Red Sea. It wraps in a separate Sanctions and Anti-Money-Laundering measure aimed at cracking down on Groups bringing deadly Fentanyl into the U.S.
Many House Republicans expect Speaker Johnson to revive a push to link Border Security to the Funding Package. “House Republicans were crystal clear from the very beginning of discussions that any so-called national security supplemental legislation must recognize that national security begins at our own border,” Speaker Johnson said in a Statement Monday. He said the House “will have to continue to work its own will on these important matters.”
Support for Ukraine has softened after an early burst of Support in 2022, with Republican backing shifting noticeably as Trump, has railed against more Aid. In a December 2023 Wall Street Journal Poll, some 56% of Republicans said that the U.S. was already doing Too-Much to help Ukraine, compared with 11% who said America wasn’t Doing-Enough.
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), a Military Hawk who has Opposed the Ukraine Package because of lack of Border Provisions, said in a Statement that the Money to Ukraine should be Converted into a Loan, as suggested by Trump. “President Trump is right to insist that we think outside the box,” said Graham, who is Skipping the Annual Munich Security Conference, where He had been scheduled to be a Marquee Attendee this weekend.
Those Sentiments were repeated by other Republican Lawmakers, who spoke by Phone to Trump Monday, about the Loan idea and how they might Implement it. “It’s a brilliant idea,” said Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK).
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker
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