US Senate votes to begin debate on foreign aid bill

The US Senate has voted to begin debate on a $95 billion foreign aid bill. The bill would provide security assistance to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan. The Senate voted 64-19 last evening to begin work on the bill. Voting is expected to continue over the weekend and into early next week.

Senate Republicans blocked a $118 billion national security supplemental package. The package includes $60 billion for Ukraine, $14 billion for Israel and border policy reforms. Republicans claim the reforms in the bill will not go far enough to stop illegal immigration.

The foreign assistance bill includes $60 billion for Ukraine, $14 billion for Israel, as well as funding for other national security priorities, but does not include any border measures.