It took all night, but minutes before the sun rose over the Capitol on Tuesday morning, the Senate passed the $95 billion foreign aid package.
Contrary to impressions, the prospects for this bill to become law seem bleak. But that still couldn’t stop supporters of the bill from gloating after the decisive 70-29 vote.
“History settles all blame,” Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said in a statement. “And today, history will record that the Senate did not blink an eye when it came to the values of American leadership and strength.”
But less than half of Mr. McConnell’s conference voted in favor of him, another sign that the conference and the party are drifting away from the longtime Republican leader.
“Most of the Senate Republicans are voting no. Mr. McConnell, of course, is voting Democratic,” said Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Missouri). Posted to X after voting. “He’s been a major supporter of Biden’s foreign policy these days. Its location is an island, and the gulf between it and the rest of America is only widening.”
Most Senate Republicans will vote no. McConnell, of course, will vote Democratic. He has recently been a major supporter of Biden’s foreign policy.Its location is an island – and the gulf between it and the rest of America is only widening
— Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) February 13, 2024
Democrats blocked a motion to allow an amendment, or even a Democratic amendment, meaning the Schumer-McConnell deal was thrown into jeopardy.
In return, the bill’s opponents refused to budge on a time agreement to expedite the vote, taking turns on the Senate floor to hold the bill and its process until the clock expired and the vote began shortly after 5 a.m. ET. made a statement to the contrary.
In the end, the bill’s 29 opponents, including Democratic Sens. Jeff Barclay (D-Ore.) and Peter Welch (D-Vermont), were unable to prevail.
McConnell wasn’t the only politician celebrating the victory. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy expressed his gratitude to the Senate, naming Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and McConnell.
President Zelenskiy posted a statement on X, asserting that “the continued support of the United States will help save lives from Russian terrorism.” It means life goes on in our cities and wars are won. ”
I am grateful @SenSchumer, @LeaderMcConnelland all U.S. senators who supported continued support for Ukraine as we fight for freedom, democracy, and the values we all hold dear.
For those of us living in Ukraine, continued U.S. support will help save lives from Russian terrorism.
— Volodymyr Zelensky / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) February 13, 2024
Despite these claims, the war continues to claim Ukrainian lives, with casualties approaching 400,000 and hundreds of thousands more likely to leave the country and never return.
The war has been at a stalemate for more than a year, with neither side able to capture any significant land as Russia continues to drain Ukraine and the West of its resources.
Opponents of endless funding for aid packages have called on the Biden administration to chart a path to victory in Ukraine, to no avail. They also want increased accountability to ensure that the notoriously corrupt Ukrainian government uses funds appropriately.
Aid advocates argue that the need for aid is too timely to slow down unnecessarily.
A vote in the Senate would do little to change the trajectory of the aid package in the House, where it is unlikely to even get a vote.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) released a statement Monday night saying the House would not advance the bill and wanted Congress to address the southern border first.
“If we do not receive any changes to border policy from the House of Lords, the House of Commons will have to continue to work on these important issues on its own,” Johnson said. “America deserves better than what’s going on in the Senate.”
After the vote, Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah), one of the leaders of the bill’s opponents, succinctly captured the bill’s prospects by saying, “The only thing that can block this bill now is the House.”
I left it all in the field.
I did everything I could to stop it.
Only the House can stop it now. pic.twitter.com/j73RGu2X4Z
— Mike Lee (@BasedMikeLee) February 13, 2024
Unless Johnson reverses course, the House of Commons will do just that.
Bradley Jay is Breitbart News’ Capitol Hill correspondent. Follow him on X/Twitter. @BradleyAJay.
