The House passed a $95.3 billion foreign aid package for Ukraine, Israel and other American allies on Saturday, a rare bipartisan effort that secured crucial votes despite objections from far-right Republicans.
Lawmakers approved the package, the vast majority of which is direct military assistance, in separate votes. Final Congressional approval is expected to come later this weekend when the package is sent to the Senate.
President Biden has said he’ll sign it into law.
One bill provides $60.8 billion for Ukraine, with more than 80% going towards helping it fight off a Russian invasion — including replenishing supplies of US-made weapons and ammunition. About $9.5 billion of the package is in the form of a forgivable loan.
It passed 311-112 with all “nay” votes coming from Republicans.
Many Dems cheered and waved Ukraine flags while shouting “Ukraine!” Of the 218 House Republicans, 112 voted against the bill. Johnson, who backed the bill, warned members it’s a House violation to wave flags on the floor.
“Put those damn flags away!” Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) told Democrats.
A second measure provides roughly $17 billion in direct military aid for Israel, and a little over $9 billion in humanitarian aid for Gaza and other war-torn regions. It passed 366-58 with dissenting members including Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and other “Squad” members and Rep. Bob Good (R-Va.) Freedom Caucus members.
The third bill provides $8.1 billion for the Indo-Pacific region to help ward off China, about half of which is set aside for Taiwan. It passed 385-34.
A fourth bill includes many Republican priorities that are endorsed by Dems, including a ban on TikTok if its China-based owner doesn’t give up ownership of the popular app, and allowing the US to seize about $5 billion in frozen Russian central bank assets to rebuild Ukraine. It passed 360-58.
House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul (R-Texas) called on members to support the foreign-aid package, saying “evil is on the march.”
“History is calling and now is the time to act,” he said before the vote. “Our adversaries are working together to undermine our Western values and demean our democracy.” --->READ MORE HERE
Dozens of Ukrainian strike drones swarmed regions of Russia overnight, taking out at least three power substations and a fuel depot one day in a after shooting down a Russian strategic bomber — a wartime first for the besieged nation.
Reuters reported the Russian Tu-22M3 bomber was hit Friday with a modified S-200, a Soviet-era long-range surface-to-air missile system.
The strategic bomber was destroyed in the central region of Dnipropetrovsk after it completed a bombing mission that killed eight people in Ukraine — including a 14-year-old girl and an 8-year-old boy.
In recent weeks, Ukraine has focused its efforts on dismantling oil refineries and energy facilities within Russia.
On Saturday, more than 50 long-range drones flew into Russia, with most being shot down in the Belgorod region on Ukraine’s northwest border.
Two Russian civilians were killed after one of the strike drones ignited a fire at their home, according to reports. --->READ MORE HEREFollow links below to +++++relevant+++++ and related stories:
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