© Reuters. The U.S. Capitol constructing is seen in Washington, U.S., December 18, 2023. REUTERS/Elizabeth Frantz
By Patricia Zengerle, Richard Cowan and Makini Brice
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -A $95.34 billion invoice that features help for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan superior within the U.S. Senate on Thursday after Republicans blocked compromise laws that included a long-sought overhaul of immigration coverage.
Senators backed a procedural movement by 67-32, exceeding the 60-vote threshold to advance the invoice. Seventeen Republicans voted in favor.
“This can be a good first step. This invoice is important for our nationwide safety, for the safety of our buddies in Ukraine, in Israel, for humanitarian help for harmless civilians in Gaza, and for Taiwan,” Schumer stated within the Senate after the vote.
There was no instant phrase on when the 100-member chamber would take into account closing passage.
The Democratic-led Senate took up the safety help invoice after Republicans on Wednesday blocked a broader measure that additionally included reforms of border safety and immigration coverage {that a} bipartisan group of senators had negotiated for months.
The safety help invoice contains $61 billion for Ukraine because it battles a Russian invasion, $14 billion for Israel in its warfare in opposition to Hamas and $4.83 billion to assist companions within the Indo-Pacific, together with Taiwan, and deter aggression by China.
Supporters of Ukraine have been struggling for a lot of the previous yr to discover a strategy to ship more cash to assist Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s authorities.
Even when the help invoice ultimately passes the Senate, it faces uncertainty within the Home of Representatives. Dozens of Republican Home members, significantly these most intently allied with former President Donald Trump, have voted in opposition to Ukraine help, together with Speaker Mike Johnson.
Whereas lawmakers have accredited greater than $110 billion for Ukraine since Russia invaded in February 2022, Congress has not handed any main help for Kyiv since Republicans took management of the Home in January 2023.