Senate passes a $95.3 billion aid package, but House hurdles ahead, AP Explains
The Senate has passed a $95.3 billion aid package for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan after almost a week of debate and growing political divisions in the Republican Party over the role of the United States abroad. A small group of Republican senators who are strongly opposed to the $60 billion for Ukraine held the Senate floor through the night, arguing that the U.S. should focus on its own problems before sending more money overseas. But Associated Press reporter Kevin Freking says the aid package will be meet significant hurdles in the U.S. House of Representatives. “Speaker Mike Johnson made clear that now, the House will have to work its will on the bill. But it's been showing over the past few months that it's very difficult for the House with the narrow majority that Republicans have now to work its will,†Freking said. Johnson has voiced support for Ukraine aid, but having that aid tied to border security, which is a priority for House republicans will make for a difficult road ahead.
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President Joe Biden on Tuesday called for House Republicans to urgently bring a $95.3 billion aid package for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan to a vote, warning that refusal to take up the bill, passed by the Senate in the morning, would be "playing into Putin's hands."
Sen. Pete Ricketts said he believes military aid to Ukraine supports America's security interests, but he felt he couldn’t vote for it without action first on the U.S. southern border.
