Arrr! Thar Senate be passin' a controversial bill, sendin' a mighty bounty to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan!
2024-02-13
Arrr! The Senate be grantin' a hefty treasure o' $95 billion fer national security. But alas, no provisions fer guardin' our borders! Aye, they be helpin' Ukraine, Israel, an' the Indo-Pacific, but shiver me timbers, what about our own shores?
The Senate passed a $95 billion national security supplemental package early Tuesday morning to assist Ukraine, Israel, and the Indo-Pacific. The package does not include any border security provisions, which led several Republicans to filibuster the bill since the weekend. The package includes $60 billion for Ukraine, $14 billion for Israel, $9 billion for humanitarian assistance in Gaza, and nearly $5 billion for the Indo-Pacific.Democrats brought the package up for a vote after Republicans blocked a $118 billion package last Wednesday that included border and immigration provisions. The U.S. has already spent over $100 billion in aid for Ukraine since its war against Russia began in February 2022.
Several Republicans voted against the package and spent the last few days filibustering the bill. They argued that the bill prioritized Ukraine over American taxpayers. Some GOP senators, including Sen. Ted Cruz, introduced amendments that included hardline border security-related provisions.
Despite opposition, GOP Sens. Mitt Romney and Thom Tillis urged their colleagues to pass the package. Republican Sen. Jerry Moran of Kansas became emotional in a floor speech supporting the bill, stating that America had to engage with the world.
The border-foreign aid package faced conservative opposition from Republicans who believed it would lead to increased illegal immigration. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer prepared a vote without the border package as a backup plan.
Republican Minority Leader Mitch McConnell backed funding for Ukraine but drew criticism from party members who wanted border security measures before passing foreign aid.
The White House requested the supplemental funding package in October, but it was delayed by Republicans who wanted more measures to address the border crisis. The failed border package included an "emergency border authority" to mandate expulsions of migrants when migration levels exceeded 5,000 a day.