US approves $13,6bn aid package for Ukraine

A $13,6 billion emergency military and humanitarian aid package for beleaguered Ukraine and its European allies received final congressional approval on March 10, reports AP.

Photo: Shutterstock

As Russia's invasion claimed thousands of lives and forced more than 2 million to flee, the Senate approved a $1,5 trillion overall bill by a 68-31 vote. Democrats and Republicans have been at odds this year over rising inflation, energy policies and ongoing restrictions. related to the pandemic, but they have rallied in support of sending aid to Ukraine, whose stubborn resilience against brutality inspires many people.

“We promised the Ukrainian people that they would not fight Putin alone,” said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a member of New York State, shortly before the vote. “And as soon as we hand over this financial assistance, we will keep this promise.”

The House of Representatives easily passed the compromise bill on March 9. Joe Biden signed.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said the approval "proves once again that members of both parties can come together to get results for the American people," a phenomenon that has been lacking in recent years.

On the subject: EU summit decides on Ukraine's European prospects

She also urged lawmakers to return funding "urgently needed to prevent major disruptions to our COVID response." Unfortunately for Biden and the Democratic leaders who made it a top priority, the House of Representatives on March 9 refused to cut $15,6 billion in state funding to continue efforts to fight the pandemic after grassroots lawmakers refused to cut aid.

About half of the $13,6 billion for Ukraine went to arming and equipping Ukraine, as well as the Pentagon's spending on sending US troops to other Eastern European countries worried about the war in their neighborhood. Most of the rest included humanitarian and economic aid, strengthening allied defenses in the region, and protecting their energy resources and cybersecurity needs.

Republicans strongly supported these spending. But they have criticized Biden for acting too timidly, such as in an unresolved dispute with Poland over how the country can provide Ukraine with MiG fighter jets that its pilots can fly.

“The first instinct of this administration is to flinch, wait for international and public pressure to crush it, and then take action only after the perfect moment has passed,” said Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, Kentucky State.

Last month, White House aides told Congress that Biden needed $6,4 billion to counter a Russian invasion. In the end, he officially requested $10 billion, it took only a few days for Congress to increase its final figure of $13,6 billion.

The overall $1,5 trillion bill providing for this assistance gave Democrats a nearly 7% increase in domestic initiatives, a little less than half the package. This has resulted in increased spending on schools, housing, childcare, renewable energy, biomedical research, community law enforcement grants, and nutrition programs.

The bill also sends money to minority communities and historic black colleges, and renews efforts to prevent domestic violence against women.

Republicans are seeking a nearly 6% increase in defense spending, including money for 85 upgraded F-35 fighter jets, 13 new Navy ships, upgrades to 90 Abrams tanks and upgrades to schools on military bases. Ukraine will receive another $300 million and other Eastern European allies will receive another $300 million in addition to emergency funding.

In addition to these political victories, many lawmakers from both parties had one incentive to support the spending package, which they had not enjoyed since 2010. Democratic leaders have reinstated the old practice of earmarked project funding, which Congress abandoned in 2011 because voters saw it as a waste of taxpayer money. The practice has been restored.

Government agencies have been operating at lower levels of funding last year since the new fiscal year began on Oct. 1 because, as usual, Congress didn't pass any bills, updating the old amounts.

Months of negotiations led this week to a compromise agreement on costs. With the latest temporary spending measure expiring on March 11 evening, Biden's signing of the $1,5 trillion bill will prevent a federal government shutdown over the weekend. The shutdown would never have happened because there was no reason for either side to ignite such a fight.

The Senate sent Biden March 8 a separate agency funding bill in case it takes time to complete the necessary reprinting and proofreading.

A lot has happened since October 1, and a lot of it has proven difficult for Democrats. Biden's popularity has fallen, high inflation has persisted, and gas prices have skyrocketed. Voters want to lift pandemic-related restrictions as the omicron wanes, Biden's landmark social and environmental bill collapsed, and Russia attacked Ukraine.

This election year, the Democrats took the $1,5 trillion package as their chance to claim victory.

Currently, the Democrats, who control the White House and Congress, could lose their small majority in the House and Senate in the November midterms, which could be their last chance to win political priorities for years to come. Until last year, they last controlled both branches in 2010.

This privilege was partly due to the relaxed attitude of both parties to the colossal federal budget deficit.

You may be interested in: top New York news, stories of our immigrants and helpful tips about life in the Big Apple - read it all on ForumDaily New York

Last year's $2,8 trillion deficit caused by the pandemic was the second largest ever. It was so high that Biden suggested that the projected $1,8 trillion gap this year would be an achievement because it would be $1 trillion less, the biggest decline on record.

As ForumDaily wrote earlier:

• On the night of February 24 began full-scale war of Russia against Ukraine.
• In the light of these events in Russia and around the world, protests against the invasion of Ukraine
• US and UK imposed broad economic sanctions against Russia due to the invasion of Ukraine.
• February 25 President of Ukraine Vladimir Zelensky urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to sit down at the negotiating table. Putin's press secretary Dmitry Peskov said that Putin is ready to send a delegation to Minsk (Belarus) for negotiations with Kiev. He specified that the delegation will include representatives of the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the presidential administration.
• In the USA there were large-scale rallies in support of Ukraine.
• Pope Francis visits the Russian Embassy February 25, to personally "express his concerns about the war" in Ukraine, which made an unprecedented deviation from diplomatic protocol.
• European Union, USA and UK imposed sanctions and froze the assets of Putin and Lavrov.
• The United States declared its readiness to start accept refugees from Ukraine.
• February 26, the world famous and one of the most popular groups of hackers Anonymous recorded a video message to Russian President Vladimir Putin. They promised to find all "skeletons in the closet" and "leave no stone unturned".
• As it became known, the Oscar-winning Hollywood actor Sean Penn is located in Ukraine and is making a documentary for Vice about events in the country.
• February 28 The world's largest aircraft An-225 was destroyed during the Russian invasion of Ukraine, it caused alarm and sadness among the aviation world, in which it occupies an almost cult status.
• On the same day, the United States and France called on their citizens immediately consider leaving Russia.
• From the very beginning of the invasion, many actions took place around the world in support of Ukraine. How it was in the USA, see our material.
• On March 1, the United States asked 12 Russian diplomats from the United Nations leave the US accusing them of "espionage activities" as Russia continues its advance into Ukraine.
• March 2 Russian businessman Alex Konanykhin offered a $1 million reward for dead or alive Putin.
• Airbus and Boeing refused to work with Russia, which endangers almost the entire civil aviation of the country.
• March 3 CEO and founder of the Russian TV channel "Rain" announced the suspension of the channel. This is due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
• Which of the Hollywood stars supported Ukraine, and who was on the side of Russia, read here.
• What Russians living in Ukraine say about the war, you can find out in our material.
• Which companies left Russia and how it hit the economy, read on link.
• Where citizens of Ukraine can receive special services in Poland - by link.
• The US State Department has warned citizens of Ukraine that the US Mission in Ukraine does not currently offer visa services. That's it services provided in Germany.
• Meanwhile, the killers tried to kill the President of Ukraine Vladimir Zelensky at least three times since Russia invaded his country on February 24.
• In Russia, the situation with free media is becoming more and more difficult. Even relatives of Ukrainians from Russia do not believe in shelling of Ukraine.
• Russian diplomats announced persona non grata, left the US, and the Russian airlines stop international flights.
• Meanwhile at the International Court of Justice in The Hague consideration of the lawsuit of Ukraine against Russia began. The subject of the lawsuit is allegations of genocide.
• Russia began active preparations for shutdown from the global internet.
• Thousands of Ukrainians leave the country: 11-year-old boy from Zaporozhye made it to the border with Slovakia and crossed it on foot.
• U.S. backs Ukraine – government officials and ordinary Americans alike: 20 workers in West Coast ports refuse tohandle Russian cargo. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky was awarded a medal Liberty Ronald Reagan.
• Tesla will continue to pay salaries to employees who decide to go to fight in Ukraine.
• In the meantime, the sanctions are taking effect: Russia is rapidly rising in price or disappearing from the sale of drugs and medical equipment manufactured by countries that have imposed sanctions on the Russian Federation because of the war in Ukraine. Down on the country iron curtain.
• Russia cannot establish a dialogue with the world - she threatens to leave from the Council of Europe and the OSCE.

Read also on ForumDaily:

Mikhail Khodorkovsky - about war, chances for peace and the Stockholm syndrome of Russians

A woman with three children who escaped from the war in Ukraine was not allowed to visit her Californian brother in the USA

Favorite areas: where Russians most often buy real estate in America

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