The U.S. Senate has passed the foreign aid bill providing aid to Israel, Ukraine, and Taiwan. In addition, the legislation includes a provision that would require Chinese company ByteDance to sell TikTok or face a national ban of the app in the United States.
This package passed a crucial procedural vote in the Senate, indicating strong bipartisan support and paving the way for final approval.
Once the Senate officially passes the legislation, it will be sent to President Joe Biden for his signature. The aid package includes approximately $60 billion for Ukraine, $26 billion for Israel, and $8 billion for Taiwan and Indo-Pacific security.
Aid for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan
The passage of this aid package in the Senate is a significant development after months of political battles.
With a final tally of 80-19, the procedural vote demonstrated bipartisan support for providing aid to these nations. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer expressed satisfaction with the outcome, stating that the relentless work of the past six months had paid off.
This vote also initiated the final debate in the Senate, which could last up to 30 hours unless an agreement is reached to hold the final vote earlier.
Schumer urged his colleagues to pass the supplemental as quickly as possible, emphasizing the importance of not delaying the process and keeping allies around the world waiting.
If the Senate passes the legislation in its final vote, it will then proceed to President Biden’s desk for his signature. Biden has already expressed his intention to sign the bill into law after it passed the House as four separate bills.
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Funding Breakdown
The aid package includes a substantial amount of funding for each country. Ukraine is set to receive approximately $60 billion in aid, while Israel will receive $26 billion. Taiwan and Indo-Pacific security will be allocated $8 billion. These amounts mirror the spending outlined in a previous foreign aid bill that was passed by the Senate in February.
The legislation’s funding is similar to the $95 billion foreign aid bill that passed the Senate earlier but has been stuck in the House since then. This aid package not only addresses foreign aid but also encompasses various other foreign policy proposals, including the provision regarding TikTok and its parent company, ByteDance.
TikTok’s Fate Hangs in the Balance
The legislation includes a measure that would force ByteDance to sell TikTok or face a national ban of the app in the United States. ByteDance would have nine months to sell the social media platform, with the possibility of an extension to a year granted by President Biden.
TikTok has strongly opposed this proposal and has indicated that it would pursue a legal challenge if the bill becomes law. The company argues that the legislation infringes on the free speech rights of millions of Americans. TikTok and ByteDance have invested significant resources in lobbying and advertisements to prevent the legislation from passing.
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Despite the controversy surrounding TikTok, the foreign aid package has faced its own challenges, particularly within the Republican Party. Some Republicans, such as Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, have criticized the aid package and threatened to remove House Speaker Mike Johnson for supporting it. However, Johnson ultimately decided to move forward with the bill after renewed bipartisan pressure following an attempted attack by Iran.
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