Senators Respond to Advancement of $95 Billion Foreign Aid Bill

The United States Senate voted 67-32 today to advance a foreign aid bill that would send $61 billion to Ukraine, $14 billion to Israel, and $4.83 billion to allies in the Indo-Pacific.

Senator Rand Paul (R-Ky.) stated the reason the bill was advanced by Senator Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Senator Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) was because they are traveling to Ukraine to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky later this month: “The only reason we are considering this legislation now is so Schumer and McConnell can celebrate with Zelenskyy when they travel to Ukraine this month. The only question is whether Ukraine will foot the bill for the champagne, or whether Americans will pay for that too.”

Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) stated in a press release his opposition to Israel receiving foreign aid, and also wrote on X, “Let me be clear: So long as this bill contains $10 billion to enable Netanyahu’s right-wing government to continue its horrific war against the Palestinian people, I will keep voting NO.”

Senator Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) questioned sending aid abroad, stating his concerns with the border crisis: “How can anyone vote to help stop the invasion of another country until they first do something REAL to stop the invasion of America?”

Senator J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) responded to Rubio, saying on X, “Amen to that. The way this process unfolded—secret negotiation for months, weak border policy, abandonment of the border for Ukraine immediately—confirms every worst fear our voters have about Washington. A vote to fund Ukraine today is a middle finger to voters.”