US Senate forges ahead on 'enormously high stakes' Ukraine, Israel aid
By Richard Cowan and Patricia Zengerle
WASHINGTON (Reuters) — The U.S. Senate on Monday will attempt to steer a $95.34 billion package containing aid for Ukraine and Israel to passage this week following months of delays, even as it lacked any guarantee that House of Representatives Republicans will support it.
The measure cleared an important procedural hurdle a day earlier in a 67-27 vote, with the support of 18 of the chamber's 49 Republicans. Democratic Majority Leader Chuck Schumer on Monday was aiming to push it through two more procedural hurdles in order to put it on a path to passing on Wednesday.
«These are enormously high stakes of the national security package. Our security, our values, our democracy. It's a down payment for the survival of Western democracy and the survival of Western values,» Schumer said on Monday after rare back-to-back Saturday and Sunday Senate sessions to work on the bill.
«The entire world is going to remember what the Senate does in the next few days,» he said.
Democratic President Joe Biden has been urging Congress to hurry new aid to Ukraine and U.S. partners in the Indo-Pacific, including Taiwan, for months. Following Hamas' Oct. 7 attack on Israel he also requested funds for the U.S. ally, along with humanitarian aid for Palestinians in Gaza.
Ukrainian officials have warned of weapons shortages at a time when Russia is pressing ahead with renewed attacks.
But in order to become law the bill must pass the House as well as the Senate, and the House has not passed any major aid for Ukraine since Republicans took control of the chamber in January 2023.
House Speaker Mike Johnson voted against earlier Ukraine aid bills when Democrats held a House majority and has not committed to
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