President Biden Signs Bill Providing Billions in Aid to Ukraine, Israel, and More

President Joe Biden scored a major bipartisan victory on Wednesday as he signed a bill into law that provides billions of dollars in new aid to Ukraine for its ongoing war with Russia. The hard-fought legislation includes $61 billion in aid to Ukraine, $26 billion for Israel, $1 billion in humanitarian assistance to Gaza, and $8 billion to counter China’s military power.

In a statement, Biden emphasized the importance of supporting America’s partners in defending their sovereignty against threats. The impact of the bill was immediate, with Biden approving an initial $1 billion in weapons supplies for Ukraine, including vehicles, air defense munitions, artillery ammunition, and anti-tank munitions.

The passage of the aid package comes after months of wrangling with Republicans in Congress, with former President Donald Trump objecting to the Ukraine aid. Biden thanked House Speaker Mike Johnson for breaking the deadlock on the legislation and vowed to address border security in the near future.

The president also took a swipe at “MAGA Republicans” loyal to Trump for blocking the aid, stating that the passage of the bill sends a clear message to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Biden emphasized that America stands with its friends and will not bow to anyone, especially not Putin.

In addition to the aid bill, Biden signed a separate piece of legislation that bans TikTok in the United States if its Chinese owner, ByteDance, fails to divest the popular app within the next nine months to a year. The move is seen as a way to address national security concerns related to the social media platform.

Overall, the passage of the aid package is seen as a victory for U.S. allies and for Biden, although experts note that the delay in funding has had consequences for Ukraine on the battlefield. Despite the challenges, Biden has worked to restore U.S. credibility on the world stage and strengthen alliances like NATO in the face of threats from Russia and China.

Republicans who supported the aid package emphasized the importance of “peace through strength” and standing by America’s allies in times of need. The bill’s passage marks a rare moment of unity in a divided Congress and a significant win for Biden as he gears up for reelection in November.