Eighteen Republican senators joined Democrats on Sunday in voting to advance a $95 billion national security bill that contains funds for Ukraine and Israel, putting the bill on a path to pass the chamber early this week in what could be seen as a rebuke to former president Donald Trump’s recent comments deriding the NATO alliance.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) is unlikely to take up the legislation if it ultimately passes the Senate, after many hard-right lawmakers have drawn a line on sending funds to Ukraine as it fends off a Russian invasion.
Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) said an “obvious choice” to improve the bill’s chances in the House would be for Democrats to use a discharge petition to circumvent Johnson’s will. Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) said discussions are being held with House lawmakers to follow such a path.
With Western aid stalled, Ukrainian troops run low on artillery shells
The legislation, which also contains more than $9 billion in humanitarian aid and additional funds for the Indo-Pacific region including Taiwan, had