US Senate scheduled vote on $106 billion in aid to Ukraine and Israel

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has announced the first procedural vote on President Joe Biden's $106 billion supplemental package to help Ukraine, Israel, the Indo-Pacific region, and for humanitarian purposes in the Gaza Strip.

This was reported by The Hill.

Schumer said that it is necessary to move forward as Ukraine is running out of resources to continue the war against the Russian invasion.

"I urge every single senator to think where we are at this moment in history. America’s national security is on the line around the world — in Europe, in the Middle East, and the Indo-Pacific," Schumer said.

According to him, funding can determine the trajectory of democracy for many years to come. "We are at a moment in history," he added.

However, Republicans have said they will vote against the bill if it does not include a border component. The GOP says a border agreement is paramount to gaining support for the bill, as it cannot pass the House without it.

Senator Chris Murphy, the Democratic Party's chief negotiator, told reporters that the talks broke down because Republicans refused to back down.

"That’s what it feels like. That Republicans want us to swallow their most difficult proposals and aren’t interested in sitting down and working this out," Murphy added.

The talks have been focused on reducing asylum applications and parole, but Republicans have said in recent weeks that they believe Democrats are refusing to make concessions in the negotiations.

Top administration officials, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, and Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines, are set to brief all senators Tuesday on the situation in Ukraine. The briefing will be classified, the publication says.

Lawmakers have no hard and fast deadline for passing the supplemental bill, which could hypothetically stretch into next year. But the White House has said that without congressional action, it will run out of aid to Ukraine by the end of the year.

Author – Anastasiya Glotova, 05/12/2023