The U.S. House of Representatives passed a significant $95 billion package providing security assistance to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, despite strong opposition from a faction of Republican hardliners. The bipartisan bill, endorsed by a substantial majority, was sent to the Democratic-majority Senate, which had approved a similar measure over two months earlier.
President Joe Biden and Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell had urged House Speaker Mike Johnson to bring the legislation to a vote. It is expected that the Senate will approve the package, allowing Biden to sign it into law.
The funding package allocates $61 billion for Ukraine, including $23 billion to restock U.S. weapons and facilities, and $26 billion for Israel, with $9 billion dedicated to humanitarian efforts. In addition, the bill provides $8 billion for the Asia-Pacific region, including Taiwan.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed gratitude, stating that the U.S. support keeps "history on the right track" following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. He emphasized that the aid package would help contain the war, save lives, and strengthen both countries.
On the other hand, Russia's Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Maria Zakharova, criticized the U.S. aid, claiming it would escalate crises globally and fund terrorist activities in Kyiv. Despite this criticism, the approval of the package signifies continued U.S. support for Ukraine amid ongoing conflict.
The bill's approval with a vote of 311-112 highlighted the differing views among Republicans, with only 101 supporting it and 112 voting against it. Al Jazeera's Patty Culhane pointed out that those who opposed the legislation had varying reasons, including concerns about European Union contributions to Ukraine, the allocation of funds domestically, and doubts over Ukraine's financial accountability.
The legislative support for Israel also revealed some divisions within Congress, with 366 votes in favor and 58 against. A noteworthy number of Democrats opposed the bill due to their criticism of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
House Speaker Johnson's leadership faced threats from hardline Republican members. Despite this, he pushed forward with the measure, maintaining the inclusion of funding for Ukraine and provisions to ban the Chinese-owned social media app TikTok, along with a possible transfer of seized Russian assets to Ukraine. His approach reflects the ongoing challenges and fractures within the Republican majority.
The passage of this comprehensive legislation was closely monitored by U.S. defense contractors, who stand to gain substantial contracts for supplying equipment to Ukraine and other U.S. partners.
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