Senate passes Ukraine funding in predawn vote
by Alexander Bolton and Aris Folley - 02/13/24 6:39 AM ETThe Senate voted early Tuesday morning to pass a $95 billion emergency defense spending bill, including $60 billion for Ukraine, after an all-night filibuster by conservative opponents finally ran out of steam shortly after 5 a.m.
The 70-29 vote capped nearly a week of floor debate and four months of wrangling over President Biden’s request to fund the war in Ukraine, which he submitted to Congress in October.
Weary senators voted on the legislation shortly before sunrise after conservatives led by Sens. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and Mike Lee (R-Utah) spoke through the night to vent their objections to the bill.
But a group of Republicans led by Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) voted with the overwhelming majority of Senate Democrats to pass the bill.
Twenty-two Republican senators voted to pass the bill, a greater number than voted to advance it in any of the earlier procedural votes.
Two Democrats voted no, Sens. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and Peter Welch (D-Vt.), citing deep concerns over supporting Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s military campaign in Gaza. The measure would provide $14 billion in security assistance to Israel.
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) also voted against it for the same reason.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) hailed the bill as a declaration that “American leadership will not waver, not falter, not fail.”
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https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/4464434-senate-passes-ukraine-funding/