In the given context, the Senate, on February 11, advanced a foreign aid package for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, totaling $95.3 billion. The package faced opposition from some conservative Republicans who argued that the U.S.–Mexico border should be secured before allocating funds to overseas partners. The bill includes over $61 billion in assistance to Ukraine, $14 billion to Israel for its conflict with Hamas, and $4.83 billion for Indo-Pacific partners, including Taiwan, to counter Chinese communist aggression.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer highlighted the urgency of the situation, emphasizing the impact of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. The bill’s advancement followed the blocking of a broader foreign aid package by Senate Republicans, which included border security policies criticized for insufficiently addressing illegal immigration. Former President Donald Trump advocated for structuring future foreign aid as loans, with favorable terms but still constituting loans.
Senator Rand Paul expressed opposition to allocating $100 billion overseas for border-related issues before addressing the U.S. border situation, characterizing it as “criminal neglect.” Senator Mike Lee also played a role in attempting to delay the procedural vote. President Biden urged Congress to pass the aid measure, warning of neglect if it failed to do so. The bill’s fate in the House remains uncertain, with growing Republican skepticism about Ukraine aid. Speaker Mike Johnson suggested the possibility of splitting the aid provisions into separate measures. However, a stand-alone aid bill for Israel faced challenges in the House, where it failed due to Democrats’ votes against it in favor of the Senate Ukraine-border package.