US Senate Approves IDR 1.5 Quadrillion Aid Package For Israel, Ukraine And Taiwan

Capitol Hill. (Wikimedia Commons/Architect of the Capitol)

JAKARTA - The United States Senate on Tuesday approved a US$95 billion aid package (Rp1,536,031,250,000,000) for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan which were long delayed, after gaining majority support on Capitol Hill.

The total package received 79 versus 18 support in the vote. Fourteen-eight Democratic Party members and 31 Republicans approved the bill.

This endorsement is a significant victory for US President Joe Biden, Democratic Democratic Party member and Republican Leader in Senate Mitch McConnell, who has long sought to send aid to Ukraine.

The package put together four draft laws approved by the House separately in a rare session on Saturday, which provided nearly US$61 billion (Rp986,293,750,000,000) in aid to Ukraine, more than US$26 billion (Rp420,387,500,000,000) for Israel, and more than US$8 billion (Rp129,350,000,000,000) for the Indo-Pacific. The first three bills are very similar to the package passed by the Senate earlier this year, which was initially rejected by DPR Speaker Mike Johnson to be brought to the House of Representatives.

"Finally, finally, finally," said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, launching CNN April 24.

The bill was then submitted to President Joe Biden to sign it into law, which said he would sign the package on Wednesday.

President Biden himself praised the ratification of the bill by the Senate in a written statement.

"I will sign this bill into law and deliver a speech to the American people as soon as the bill arrives at my table tomorrow so we can start sending weapons and equipment to Ukraine this week," President Biden said.

Assistance to Ukraine and Israel stalled after Republicans in the House and Senate demanded the first action in terms of border security, which led to months of Senate negotiations over border packages linked to foreign aid. However, former President Donald Trump led the opposition to the final deal, and Republicans finally canceled it.