- Long-delayed weaponry to reach battlefields within weeks
- Israel, Taiwan aid included in bill ultraconservatives opposed
The Senate advanced a $95 billion emergency aid package for Ukraine and other besieged US allies, putting the bill on track for final congressional approval.
The Defense Department is prepared to begin shipping arms to Ukraine within days, allowing long-delayed weaponry to reach the battlefield within weeks, a White House official said.
The popular TikTok social media app also faces a US ban under the legislation unless <-bsp-bb-link state="{"bbHref":"bbg://securities/1774397D%20CH%20Equity","_id":"0000018f-0cc2-d583-afbf-cedee5c00000","_type":"0000016b-944a-dc2b-ab6b-d57ba1cc0000"}">Bytedance Ltd-bsp-bb-link> divests within 360 days, a provision the China-based corporate parent says it will fight in US courts.
Read More: <-bsp-bb-link state="{"bbDocId":"SCCOX2T0G1KW","_id":"0000018f-0cc2-d583-afbf-cedee5c10000","_type":"0000016b-944a-dc2b-ab6b-d57ba1cc0000"}">TikTok Ready to Fight US Ban With 170 Million Users at Stake-bsp-bb-link>
Senate passage of the bill would end an impasse over aid President
The 80-19 procedural vote Tuesday to limit debate on the aid package, which also includes assistance for Israel and Taiwan, forces a final Senate vote by Wednesday. Republican opponents are expected to allow a vote late Tuesday evening.
The bipartisan vote “should put some wind in the sails of those on the ground, doing the fighting,” said Connecticut Democrat
Senate approval of the package was a foregone conclusion after the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a 311 to 112 bipartisan vote. Speaker
The $61 billion for Ukraine includes $13 billion to replenish US stockpiles for weapons already given to Ukraine and $14 billion for US-made defense systems to be provided to Ukraine. It also has $7 billion for US military operations in the region. The bill’s $9.5 billion in economic assistance to Ukraine comes in the form of a loan that the president can fully forgive after the next election.
The loan idea was first floated by
That bill also allows the confiscation of Russian dollar assets to help fund assistance to Ukraine.
Read More: <-bsp-bb-link state="{"bbDocId":"SC9C9TT1UM0W","_id":"0000018f-0cc2-d583-afbf-cedee5c80000","_type":"0000016b-944a-dc2b-ab6b-d57ba1cc0000"}">US House Passes $95 Billion to Aid Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan-bsp-bb-link>
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<-bsp-person state="{"_id":"0000018f-0cc2-d583-afbf-cedee5d10000","_type":"00000160-6f41-dae1-adf0-6ff519590003"}">Megan Scully-bsp-person> at mscully32@bloomberg.net
Mike Dorning
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