Ukraine aid bill inches forward in US Senate By Reuters

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© Reuters. U.S. Sen. Edward Markey (D-MA) speaks throughout a press convention addressing a brand new coverage that calls for recipients of overseas navy help to observe worldwide humanitarian legislation on the U.S. Capitol in Washington, U.S., February 9, 2024. REUTERS/Nathan Howa

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By David Morgan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. Senate on Friday edged nearer to passing a invoice that features $95.34 billion in help for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, however faces an unsure path to turning into legislation on account of Republican opposition in each chambers of Congress.

The Senate voted 64-19 to advance the laws one step alongside a sequence of preliminary votes that would stretch into subsequent week, until occasion leaders can attain settlement with rank-and-file lawmakers to fast-track the invoice. Lawmakers count on to take the following procedural step in a uncommon Sunday session.

In Friday’s vote, the invoice cleared a easy majority threshold with 14 Republicans supporting the measure.

Many Republicans wish to make a take care of Senate Majority Chief Chuck Schumer, a Democrat, to permit amendments to the laws in trade for faster motion.

However different Republicans, who reject the invoice’s $61 billion in Ukraine help, have vowed to delay consideration for so long as potential by forcing the Senate to adjust to a labyrinth of time-consuming parliamentary guidelines.

Republicans had insisted that Ukraine help be accompanied by provisions to safe the U.S.-Mexico border, solely to reject a bipartisan border settlement as soon as former President Donald Trump, the occasion’s presidential frontrunner, got here out in opposition to the deal.

A few of those self same lawmakers now hope to supply their very own amendments to stem the circulate of migrants into the USA, whereas others wish to forgo humanitarian help provisions and limit overseas help to weapons and materiel.

If the laws finally passes the Senate, it can face an unsure future within the Republican-controlled Home of Representatives, the place Speaker Mike Johnson has indicated he might cut up the help into separate payments.

“We’ll see what the Senate does,” Johnson advised reporters this week. “I’ve made very clear that it’s important to tackle these points on their very own deserves.”

Johnson spoke a day after the Home rejected a stand-alone help invoice for Israel.