Biden signs ‘vital’ foreign aid bill for Ukraine and Israel

President Biden on Wednesday signed the $95 billion emergency foreign aid package, calling out “MAGA Republicans” for the delay in sending aid to Ukraine.

“It’s a good day for America, it’s a good day for Europe, and it’s a good day for world peace,” Biden said in announcing he signed the legislation. “It will make America safer, it will make the world safer and it will continue America’s leadership in the world and everyone knows it.”

The Senate approved a package that includes $61 billion for Ukraine, $15 billion in military aid for Israel, $9 billion in humanitarian aid for Gaza and other war-torn areas, and $8 billion in security assistance for stop Chinese aggression in the Indo-Pacific on Tuesday. after the House approved a package of bills this weekend.

“For my table, it was a difficult road. It should have been easier and I should have gotten there sooner. But in the end, we did what America always does; we rose to the moment, we came together and we did it,” Biden said.

“For months, while MAGA Republicans blocked aid, Ukraine was running out of artillery shells and ammunition. In the meantime, Putin’s friends keep him well supplied,” he added, calling out Iran, North Korea and China for helping Russia intensify airstrikes.

Biden noted that there were reports of applause from Ukraine as they watched the House vote in favor of their military operation on Saturday, adding “it’s not like they don’t understand what we did.”

The president said the US will begin sending equipment to Ukraine “in the next few hours” from the US arsenal. He noted that the U.S. will replenish its reserves by manufacturing equipment at home, which he says creates jobs.

And he noted the “vital” support the legislation provides for Israel and said his commitment to Israel is “steadfast.”

“We will always ensure that Israel has what it needs to defend itself against Iran and the terrorists it supports,” he said, adding that the aid aims to prevent Iran from carrying out the “destruction it intended 10 days ago.”

Biden said the bill “significantly” increases humanitarian assistance, sending $1 billion in aid to Gaza, adding that Israel “must ensure that all of this aid reaches Palestinians in Gaza.”

The passage of the legislation comes as Biden faces growing pressure from fellow Democrats, activists, Arab and Muslim Americans and young people to call for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza. Hundreds of people are protesting on college campuses this week, with demonstrations at Columbia University leading to arrests and the school making classes remote for the rest of the semester.

The president also noted Wednesday that the foreign aid package does not include border security, which was part of the initial $111 billion national security package requested by Biden last year.

“It should have been included in this bill, and I’m determined to get it done for the American people,” Biden said.

The legislation also includes language to force TikTok’s Chinese owner to divest itself of the popular app, which more than 140 million Americans use, or face a ban in the United States.

Biden noted that the bill was passed on bipartisan measures and said that during the period of division, Congress was able to come together “on critical issues.”