In the early hours of Tuesday morning, the Senate approved a $95 billion foreign aid bill targeting Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan. The legislation, passed with a 70-29 vote, drew significant opposition from Senate Republicans, with more than half of them voting against the measure. The aid package designates $61 billion for Ukraine, $14 billion for Israel, $4.83 billion for U.S. allies in the Indo-Pacific, and over $9 billion for global humanitarian aid. While the bill gained support from almost all Democrats, 22 Republicans also backed it.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer emphasized the historical significance of the bill, asserting its impact on national security, the security of allies, and the broader defense of Western democracy. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Republican, also played a pivotal role in advancing the legislation, highlighting the Senate’s commitment to America’s national security responsibilities. The bill received backing from prominent Republican senators, including McConnell, Mitt Romney, and Susan Collins.
However, conservative senators who have been advocating for prioritizing solutions to the border crisis and the surge of illegal immigrants expressed strong opposition to the foreign aid package. Senator Roger Marshall voiced concerns about neglecting border security and prioritizing foreign nations over addressing domestic challenges. Senators J.D. Vance and Josh Hawley criticized the bill, with Vance highlighting the need to focus on fixing domestic issues before allocating additional resources to Ukraine.
The debate over the foreign aid package reflects internal divisions among Republicans, with younger senators tending to vote against the bill, signaling a shift in party dynamics. A previous attempt to couple the foreign aid bill with border security measures failed earlier in the month, as conservative senators argued that it did not effectively address the ongoing border crisis. House Speaker Mike Johnson criticized the Senate’s approach, stating that the bill failed to address pressing domestic issues and secure America’s own borders before distributing additional foreign aid globally.