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US Senate votes overwhelmingly to advance Ukraine, Israel aid legislation

By REUTERS
April 24, 2024
This image shows the outside view of the U.S. Senate. — AFP/File
This image shows the outside view of the U.S. Senate. — AFP/File

WASHINGTON: Billions of dollars in foreign aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan advanced in the U.S. Senate on Tuesday, heading for a vote on final passage days after the House of Representatives abruptly ended a months-long stalemate and approved the assistance in a rare Saturday session.

The Senate voted by an overwhelming 80 to 19 in favor of advancing the package of four bills passed by the House, far more than the 60 needed to pave the way for a vote on final passage as soon as Tuesday or Wednesday. 

One of the bills provided $61 billion for Ukraine, a second $26 billion for Israel, and a third $8.12 billion “to counter communist China” in the Indo-Pacific. A fourth includes a potential ban on the social media app TikTok, measures for the transfer of seized Russian assets to Ukraine and new sanctions on Iran.