The US Senate has cleared $ 40 billion in aid to Ukraine, sending bills to Biden

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(Bloomberg) – The Senate passed the $ 40 billion Ukraine aid package by a bipartisan 86 to 11 vote, sending the bill to President Joe Biden for his signature.

The bill received significantly larger but irresistible support than the $ 33 billion aid package requested by Biden last month.

Idaho Republican Jim Rich said the message is that the United States is committed to standing up to any democracy in a dictatorship that seeks to overcome it. “Ronald Reagan spent eight years overthrowing the Soviet Union and liberating the countries in its orbit. We will not give up the effort he has made. We are all inside. ”

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As a sign of how popular support remains for Ukraine’s struggle against Russian aggression, the bill passed the House by 368 to 57 votes last week.

The only “no” vote in both chambers came from Republicans who said they were concerned about sending money abroad which would exacerbate the deficit and demand a clear strategy from the Biden administration to deal with the Russian attack.

The bill’s final Senate pass came a week after Senator Rand Paul, a Kentucky Republican, sought to insert language to give the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction overseeing Ukraine-assisted oversight. Opponents of the change said it was unnecessary and would force the House to re-vote on the measure.

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Paul voted against the bill, noting that it was paid for by deficit.

“If Congress really believes that paying $ 40B to Ukraine was in our national interest, they could easily pay আয় 500 tax to each income taxpayer. I guess they chose to borrow $ bc. Will have to pay another $ 500, “Paul tweeted Thursday.

Democrats said the delay, which pushed the bill into effect the same week that the Pentagon’s authority to send weapons to Ukraine ended the same week, helped Russia.

“It simply came to our notice then. Delaying Ukraine’s funding for the purpose is only strengthening Putin’s hand, “said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer on the Senate floor this week.

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The bill includes $ 19.7 billion for the Department of Defense, বেশি 3 billion more than the administration requested. That includes $ 6 billion in direct security assistance to Ukraine, which Biden sought last month, and $ 9.05 billion to replenish arms stockpiles sent to Ukraine from the Pentagon. The package would provide সাম 4 billion in foreign military funding to Ukraine and other countries affected by the attack to help them purchase weapons.

The bill also includes মার্কিন 8.8 billion in direct financial assistance to Ukraine, along with funds to repair the U.S. embassy in Kiev, document war crimes and protect against nuclear energy leaks.

In addition, the measure will provide $ 4.35 billion for global food and humanitarian assistance managed by the International Development Organization and another $ 700 million to the Global Food Fund at the State Department. Despite some Republican concerns, the fund’s inclusion was that the bill should not address the global food crisis.

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Democrats were able to build Republican support for the bill, excluding a provision that would allow permanent residency for Afghan refugees and decide to exclude Ukraine from a suspended Covid spending package. Biden called for টি 10 ​​billion in coronavirus assistance from the law due to the stagnation of immigration.

Paul is joining opposition to the bill on deficit concerns by a small but growing number of Republican senators. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, John Boozman of Arkansas, Mike Brown of Indiana, Mike Krapo of Idaho, Bill Hagerty of Tennessee, Josh Howley of Missouri, Mike Lee of Utah, Roger Marshall of Kansas, Cynthia Lumis of Wyoming and Tommy Tuber of Almavavil. Everyone has come out against the law.

“While the size of this bill is the size of my state’s annual budget, the clearer answer is that we must stop fighting American power now, reduce global energy prices and prevent Putin’s war against Ukraine in that way,” Hager said in an interview. Unpaid for this. “

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