Sixty votes were needed to advance the bill on Wednesday, and despite Biden giving lawmakers a last-minute warning that history will harshly judge "those who turn their back on freedom's cause," no Republican jumped the aisle to side with their Democratic colleagues, and the legislation faltered in a 49-51 vote.
Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont voted with the Republicans, and Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer of New York changed his vote to a "no" to be able to bring the bill back to the floor at a later date.
"Sad night for the Senate and America," Schumer said in a statement online.
"Republicans blocked funding for Ukraine, Israel, humanitarian aid for civilians in Gaza, funding for the Indo-Pacific. If Republicans don't get serious about a national security package, [Russian President Vladimir] Putin's going to walk right through Ukraine and Europe."
The Biden administration has been warning for months that Congress-approved funds for Ukraine's defenses were near spent, and in October, after Israel launched its war in Gaza against Hamas, the president unveiled a $111 billion emergency supplemental package that includes $61 billion for Ukraine and more than $10 billion for Israel.
There is also founding to strengthen the U.S. defense base across Europe and the wider region, including in the Indo-Pacific, and to bolster the southern border.
However, Republicans want more for border security. On Tuesday, Republicans stormed out of a classified meeting on the war in Ukraine in protest that there was no talk about the border.
On Wednesday afternoon ahead of the vote, Biden spoke from the Roosevelt Room, saying it was "stunning" that Congress has crept this close to its holiday recess without approving funds of Ukraine.
"The Republicans in Congress are willing to give Putin the greatest gift he could hope for and abandon our global leadership not just to Ukraine, but beyond. "
"Who is prepared to walk away from holding Putin accountable for his behavior? Who among us is really prepared to do that," the president asked.
He accused Republicans of being willing to "kneecap Ukraine on the battlefield and damage our national security in the process" in order to secure what they want without bipartisan compromise.
"Extreme Republicans are playing chicken with our national security, holding Ukraine's funding hostage to their extreme partisan border policies."
The Biden administration on
From the floor prior to the vote, Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell said that Republicans would down the bill over their border concerns.
"As we've said for weeks, legislation that does not include policy changes to secure our borders will not pass the Senate," he said.
Following the vote, White House national security advisor Jake Sullivan said nothing changes: Congress still must act on funding Ukraine.
"With funds to arm Ukraine nearly exhausted, we now face a defining moment of truth: will the United States continue to stand with Ukraine in its fight for freedom, or will we ignore the lessons of history and let Putin and autocracy prevail?" he said.
U.S. unveils new security package for Ukraine as future of Kyiv aid is uncertain
Washington DC (UPI) Dec 7, 2023 -
The United States has unveiled a new security package for Ukraine as President Joe Biden's emergency funding bill for Kyiv and other allies falters in the Senate.
The package of lethal weapons and equipment, valued at some $175 million, was announced Wednesday, representing the 52nd military drawdown from U.S. stockpiles for Ukraine since August 2021.
According to a release from the Department of Defense, the United States, Ukraine's largest backer in its war against Russia, has committed more than $44.8 billion in security assistance to Kyiv during the Biden administration, including more than $44 billion since the war began on Feb. 24, 2022.
However, the unveiling comes as Congress-approved funds for Ukraine are nearly spent, a reality the White House has been warning about for months and has urged lawmakers to act before coffers run dry.
In October, Biden unveiled a $111 billion emergency supplement funding bill that would give Ukraine tens of billions in assistance as well as billions to Israel, and funds for other national security concerns, including the border security.
However, it has been met with staunch resistance from Republicans who say it doesn't go far enough when it comes to border policies, prompting Democrats to accuse the GOP of jeopardizing national security to secure partisan goals.
On Wednesday, Republicans in the Senate prevented the bill from moving forward in a 49-51 vote.
Early this week, Shalanda Young, director of the White House's Office of Management and Budget, sent House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana a letter to emphasize the urgency of the moment, stating that as lawmakers consider the bill, U.S. national security is on the line around the world,.
"That's why passing this supplemental is so important. It could determine the trajectory of democracy for years to come. We are at a moment in history," she said.
The package includes air defense capabilities, artillery ammunition, anti-take weapons and other equipment and spare parts.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned in his announcement of the package that it would be among the last for Ukraine until Congress acts on Biden's supplement funding request.
"Helping Ukraine defend itself against Russian aggression and secure its future advances our national security interests and contributes to global stability around the world, and we need Congress to act immediately," he said in a statement.
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