US House approves $95-B Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan security aid package
WASHINGTON—The US House of Representatives on Saturday with broad bipartisan support passed a $95-billion legislative package providing security assistance to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, over bitter objections from Republican hardliners.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said the approval of security aid to Kyiv would lead to more damage and death in Ukraine.
The legislation now proceeds to the Democratic-majority Senate. Final passage is expected sometime next week, which would clear the way for President Joe Biden to sign it into law.
The bills provide $60.84 billion to address the conflict in Ukraine, including $23 billion to replenish US weapons, stocks and facilities; $26 billion for Israel, including $9.1 billion for humanitarian needs, and $8.12 billion for the Indo-Pacific, including Taiwan.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed his thanks, saying US lawmakers moved to keep “history on the right track.”
It was unclear how quickly the new military funding for Ukraine would be depleted, likely causing calls for further action by Congress.
Some hardline Republicans voiced strong opposition to further Ukraine aid arguing that the United States could ill afford it given its rising $34 trillion national debt.
Cracks in support
Biden said in a statement: “It comes at a moment of grave urgency, with Israel facing unprecedented attacks from Iran and Ukraine under continued bombardment from Russia.”
The vote on passage of the Ukraine funding was 311-112. Significantly, 112 Republicans opposed the legislation, with only 101 in support.
Meanwhile, the House’s actions put on display some cracks in what generally is solid support for Israel within Congress. Recent months have seen some Democrats express anger with Israel’s government and its conduct of the war in Gaza.
Saturday’s vote, in which the Israel aid was passed 366-58, had 37 Democrats and 21 Republicans in opposition.
Passage of the long-awaited legislation was closely watched by US defense contractors, who could be in line for huge contracts to supply equipment for Ukraine and other US partners.
Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson this week chose to ignore ouster threats by hardline members of his fractious 218-213 majority and push forward the measure that includes Ukraine funding as it struggles to fight off a two-year Russian invasion.
The unusual four-bill package also includes a measure that includes a threat to ban the Chinese-owned social media app TikTok and the potential transfer of seized Russian assets to Ukraine.
“It’s not the perfect legislation,” Johnson told reporters on Friday. “This is the best possible product that we can get under these circumstances.” —REUTERS
