US Senate passes $95.3 billion foreign aid bill

The US Senate on Tuesday passed a $95.3 billion foreign aid bill for Ukraine and Israel. That US media reports tuesday The House of Representatives still has to approve the bill. It may take weeks or months. The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Republican Mike Johnson, opposes the bill and believes that foreign aid must be cut off if the United States defaults on debt.

The foreign aid package will be used to support Ukraine in its fight against Russia ($60 billion), provide security assistance to Israel ($14.1 billion) and humanitarian aid to civilians in the Gaza Strip ($9.2 billion). Taiwan and the Indo-Pacific region are also receiving support to counter China, receiving $4.8 billion from the aid package. “For us in Ukraine, continued US aid helps save lives from Russian terrorism,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said. In a message on X.

The bill passed with 70 votes in favor, with 29 senators opposed. Almost all Democrats in the Senate were in favor, with 22 Republicans. “It has been years, perhaps decades, since the Senate passed a bill that would have such a profound impact not only on our national security, not just on the security of our allies, but on the security of Western democracies,” the Democrat said. In the audience was Senate President Chuck Schumer.