Senate advances Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan funding in procedural vote

The Senate on Thursday advanced a supplemental spending package to provide roughly $95 billion in foreign aid to Israel, Ukraine, and Taiwan past a key procedural hurdle.

The chamber voted 64-19 to end debate on the bill, with 14 Republicans and Vermont Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders voting against doing so, Politico reported. To clear the Senate, the legislation must advance through several more votes and clear the 60-vote filibuster threshold.

At least one amendment vote is expected over the weekend requiring 60 votes. Come Monday, the Senate will need to approve an amendment that cleared the prior threshold and hold a further 60-vote advancement vote before taking the final vote.

"Democrats are willing to consider reasonable and fair amendments here on the floor, as we’ve shown on many occasions in the past three years," Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said.

Originally, the proposed foreign aid was part of a broader deal pairing the funding with reforms to border security. Conservative Republicans strongly objected to the terms of those reforms and prevented the original plan from advancing.

Schumer subsequently moved forward with only the foreign aid components. It remains unclear whether the package could clear the Republican-led House that balked at the original border deal.

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter.