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1 of 4 | The U.S. Senate connected Tuesday voted to beforehand a $95 cardinal overseas assistance package pinch backing for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan that will now caput to President Joe Biden's desk, aft being stalled by Republicans successful nan House. File Photo by Pat Benic/UPI | License Photo
April 23 (UPI) -- Senate lawmakers Tuesday overwhelmingly approved a $95 cardinal overseas assistance package for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan that will now caput to President Joe Biden's desk, aft being stalled by Republicans successful nan House.
The measure passed 79-18 successful nan Senate connected Tuesday, and includes $60 cardinal successful assistance for Ukraine, $26 cardinal for Israel and Gaza humanitarian assistance and $8 cardinal for Taiwan and nan Indo-Pacific.
In a statement Tuesday night, Biden described nan ballot arsenic nan Senate joining nan House successful answering "history's telephone astatine this captious inflection point."
"Congress has passed my authorities to fortify our nationalist information and nonstop a connection to nan world astir nan powerfulness of American leadership: we guidelines resolutely for populist and freedom, and against tyranny and oppression," he said.
The measure now heads to Biden much than six months aft he initially called connected Congress to nonstop him authorities for emergency backing for Ukraine and aft nan effort was stonewalled by Republicans seeking to discuss much separator information backing and stricter migration policies, contempt small guidance to sending Ukraine much funding.
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky was speedy Tuesday nighttime to nonstop retired his thanks.
"This ballot reinforces America's domiciled arsenic a beacon of populist and nan leader of nan free world," he said in a statement connected X.
To reporters pursuing nan vote, Senate mostly leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., called nan authorities 1 of nan astir important they person passed successful "a very agelong time" to protect U.S. information and nan information of Western democracy.
"It's not each time you tin opportunity you made nan world a amended place, but nan Senate tin opportunity that tonight," he said.
Schumer said nan ballot sends nan connection to nan world that nan United States will not shrink from its responsibilities arsenic a leader connected nan world stage.
"Tonight, we make [Russian President] Vladimir Putin regret nan time he questioned American resolve," he added.
Biden first urged Congress to walk a supplemental measure successful August to money Ukraine arsenic its armory was moving debased connected supplies. But aft Hamas launched its bloody astonishment onslaught connected Israel successful October, it was revised to see backing for nan Middle East state and different allies.
That measure passed nan Senate successful February, but was met pinch staunch guidance successful nan House from far-right Republicans loyal to erstwhile President Donald Trump, who had voiced guidance to nan bill.
Under mounting unit and contempt threats from members of his ain statement to oust him if he did so, House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Ky., brought nan authorities arsenic 3 abstracted bills to nan level past week on pinch a 4th measure that included a TikTok prohibition successful an effort to promote support for nan packages from nan utmost correct of his party.
Sen. number leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said Tuesday connected nan Senate level that nan United States must see its "global responsibilities."
"Today, nan Senate sits for a trial connected behalf of nan full nation. It is simply a trial of American resolve. Our readiness, and our willingness to lead. And nan stakes of nonaccomplishment are abundantly clear," he said. "Failure to thief Ukraine guidelines against Russian aggression now intends inviting escalation against our closest pact friends and trading partners."
In nan Senate, nan measure had been met by a overmuch weaker opposition, pinch Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah having tried to rally capable Republicans together to filibuster nan authorities and forestall it from moving forward.
"The $95 cardinal measure doesn't person to pass," Lee said connected X complete nan weekend. "It takes only 41 senators to extremity it. There are 49 Republicans successful nan Senate -- much than enough."
Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., called for amendments to region violative assistance for what he called nan "extremist" authorities of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
"As U.S. taxpayers, do we want to beryllium complicit successful Netanyahu's unprecedented and ferocious subject run against nan Palestinian people?" he asked.
Sanders and Lee are among nan 18 who voted "no" Tuesday.
