Senate eyes swift passage of $95 billion foreign aid bill

The $95 billion in foreign aid that passed the House last week could arrive on President Joe Biden’s desk as soon as Tuesday if the Senate agrees to fast-track the legislation.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) has promised to move “expeditiously” on the aid, which provides funding to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan. But the timing will depend on whether his GOP colleagues, bitterly divided over the conflict with Russia, agree to cooperate.

Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT), who opposes the Ukraine portion, has already thrown up one procedural hurdle before the chamber takes a test vote on Tuesday afternoon, and Schumer will face further delays as senators lobby to make last-minute changes to the bill.

Lee wants to force Ukraine to repay the $9 billion in “forgivable loans” earmarked for economic assistance, with the proceeds used to pay down
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