Washington, DC —
The US Senate advanced a $95 billion foreign aid bill on Thursday (8/2), with a vote of 67-32. The final vote approved $60 billion in aid for Ukraine and $14 billion in Israeli aid.
After hours of negotiations, the Senate agreed to the 60-vote threshold needed to advance to a final vote on an aid package that includes billions of dollars for Indo-Pacific countries to counter Chinese aggression.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer proposed the measure late Wednesday, after a bipartisan $118 billion U.S. border security agreement failed in the Senate, despite months of negotiations.
If approved, the bipartisan agreement would increase immigration detention capacity and end the practice of allowing migrants to remain in America while applying for asylum. The agreement also allows the president to temporarily close the US-Mexico border if migrants crossing the border reach a certain number.
The immigration issue, which has long been unresolved by Congress and the presidential successors of the Republican and Democratic parties, this year has become part of the political campaign for the 2024 presidential election. (ps/ka)