(ProsperNews.net) – The US Senate has passed a bill to provide billions of dollars in international aid while ignoring the American southern border. Promoted by Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell, the legislation gives $60 billion to Ukraine, $14 billion to Israel, $9 billion for humanitarian assistance, and almost $5 billion to allies in the Indo-Pacific region. It comes after the GOP in the House of Representatives rejected a similar bill that included the same overseas aid but with provisions for the southern border that Republicans said were insufficient.
GOP House Speaker Mike Johnson has similarly hinted that he will reject this latest legislation and draft a replacement that will include robust border protections for the United States. “America deserves better than the Senate’s status quo,” Johnson said.
In detail, the legislation provides $60 billion to Ukraine which will be used to purchase weapons from American arms manufacturers. Israel will receive $14 billion, and the controversial UNWRA will be defunded. The organization came under international fire recently when it became apparent that some of its staff supported, and even participated in, the Hamas terror attack on the Jewish state last year.
A further $2.4 billion is allocated to the Pentagon for its operations in the Red Sea, where Islamic militants have been attacking ships as a show of solidarity with Hamas.
The $10 billion for humanitarian aid will provide food, water, and other essentials to civilians in conflict zones including Gaza and Ukraine. The final $4.83 billion for the Indo-Pacific will help Taiwan deter attacks or invasion by China.
President Biden is pressuring the House to pass the bill, saying the US has responsibilities to its allies and lawmakers must do “the right thing.” Both party leaders in the Senate, Republican Mitch McConnell and Democrat Chuck Schumer, strongly support the bill, but Mike Johnson, GOP Speaker of the House of Representatives, hinted he will not allow a vote in the House because there are no provisions for the US border.
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