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The U.S. House of Representatives passed a $95 billion legislative package on Saturday that, if ultimately passed, would provide security aid to allies Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan and possibly impose a ban on the popular short-form video platform TikTok.
The legislation is unusual as it consists of four bills, three of which concern aid and the other national security. The passage of the security relief measures saw broad bipartisan support, even as hard-line Republicans expressed vehement objections.
The package will now go to the US Senate, which is expected to approve the measure next week. President Joe Biden urged the Senate to “swiftly” send the package to his desk so it can be signed into law.
“Today, members of both parties in the House voted to advance our national security interests and send a clear message about the power of American leadership on the world stage,” Biden said in a statement.
“This package will provide critical support to Israel and Ukraine; it will provide desperately needed humanitarian aid in Gaza, Sudan, Haiti and other places affected by conflict and natural disasters around the world; and it will strengthen security and stability in the Indo-Pacific,” Biden said. added.
The three bills outlining the security aid are titled “Israel Security Supplemental Appropriations Act” – passed by a vote of 366 to 58; the “Indo-Pacific Security Supplemental Appropriations Act” – passed by a vote of 385 to 34; and the “Law on Additional Appropriations for the Security of Ukraine” – passed with 311 votes in favor and 112 against.
Ukraine’s bill makes up the largest portion of the $95 billion aid package, allocating $60.83 billion in funds in 2024 to help the country in its two-year battle against Russia’s invasion. Of this total, approximately $23 billion would be used to supply US weapons and facilities in the region, while more than $11 billion would fund current military operations. Nearly $14 billion would help Ukraine purchase advanced weapons systems and other defense equipment.
The Israeli aid package allocates $26.38 billion to the country in 2024. The Israeli bill would also provide $4 billion for the country’s missile defense systems, $3.5 billion for the purchase of advanced weapons and $9.2 billion in humanitarian assistance.
Finally, the Indo-Pacific Security Assistance Bill allocates $8.1 billion in funds in 2024, of which $1.9 billion would be provided to Taiwan.
The fourth bill that is part of the legislative package contains measures to strengthen national security. One such measure would force Chinese tech giant ByteDance ( BDNCE ) to sell TikTok or ban it from US app stores.