ANALYSIS – Should it be a loan? To some, the U.S. Senate has taken a significant step towards maintaining American leadership and strengthening national security by approving a $95.3 billion foreign aid bill.
To others, the bill fails miserably since it doesn't include anything to finally control our own borders.
And some believe all of it should be a loan, not aid.
“With this bill, the Senate declares that American leadership will not waiver, will not falter, will not fail,” said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, who worked closely with Republican Leader Mitch McConnell on the legislation. (RELATED: Mitch McConnell Receives Devastating Family News)
“History settles every account,” McConnell said in a statement following the vote. “And today, on the value of American leadership and strength, history will record that the Senate did not blink.”
The bill includes $60 billion for Ukraine to help it fend off Russia's invasion, $27 billion for Israel and $8 billion to support partners in the Indo-Pacific, including Taiwan, to deter aggression by China. At least $20 billion is to replenish U.S. weapons stock.
It passed with a 70-29 vote just before sunrise Tuesday, with the majority of Democrats and 22 Republicans who defied Trump voting in favor.
As ABC News reported, GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina suggested that the aid to Ukraine and Israel be given as a loan instead, an idea Trump had proposed. (RELATED: Biden Said Trump Remarks On NATO Are ‘Unhinged'? Are They?)
“A loan on friendly terms allows America, who is deeply in debt, a chance to get our money back and changes the paradigm of how we help others,” Graham said. “President Trump is right to insist that we think outside the box.”
Graham, usually a national security hawk who previously had supported aid to Ukraine, voted against it.
ABC News added:
The 22 Senate Republicans who voted to pass the aid are: John Boozman, Shelley Moore Capito, Bill Cassidy, Susan Collins, John Cornyn, Kevin Cramer, Mike Crapo, Joni Ernst, Chuck Grassley, John Hoeven, John Kennedy, Mitch McConnell, Jerry Moran, Lisa Murkowski, Jim Risch, Mitt Romney, Mike Rounds, Dan Sullivan, John Thune, Thom Tillis, Roger Wicker, Todd Young.
However, the bill's fate remains uncertain in the House, as some Republicans, driven by former President Donald Trump, oppose granting any foreign aid unless it is a loan.
The Senate passed the legislation after Republicans blocked a broader bill last week that would have combined foreign aid with a bipartisan border deal. Republicans had initially demanded that border security be part of the bill, but went on to reject the bipartisan border deal amid forceful attacks on the measure by Trump and top House Republicans.
In a statement on Monday, Johnson criticized the foreign aid bill over its lack of border provisions, saying, the Senate “should have gone back to the drawing board to amend the current bill to include real border security provisions that would actually help end the ongoing catastrophe.” Johnson had previously opposed the broader bill that did include border provisions. The speaker has characterized those provisions as insufficient…
As CNN reported, House Speaker Mike Johnson then went further:
Johnson told reporters on Tuesday that he is not planning to put the package on the House floor, setting up a major clash between the two chambers.
“I certainly don't,” Johnson said when asked if he plans to put the bill on the floor. “Right now, we're dealing with the appropriations process, we have immediate deadlines upon us and that's where the attention is in the House at the moment.”
While lawmakers have approved more than $110 billion for Ukraine since Russia invaded in February 2022, the House has not passed any significant aid since Republicans took control of the chamber in January 2023.
Fix the border first.
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the positions of American Liberty News.
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