Biden signs ‘vital’ Ukraine, Israel foreign aid bill

President Biden on Wednesday signed the $95 billion emergency foreign aid package, calling out “MAGA Republicans” for the holdup to send 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 when announcing he signed the legislation. “It’s going to make America safer, it’s going to make the world safer, and it continues 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 to deter Chinese aggression in the Indo-Pacific on Tuesday after the House passed a package of bills this weekend.

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

“For months, while MAGA Republicans were blocking aid, Ukraine’s been running out of artillery shells and ammunition. Meanwhile, Putin’s friends are keeping him well supplied,” he added, calling out Iran, North Korea and China for helping Russia ramp up air strikes.

Biden noted there were reports of cheers from Ukraine as they watched the House vote in support of its military operation Saturday, adding “it’s not like they don’t understand what we’ve done.”

The president said the U.S. will start sending equipment to Ukraine “in the next few hours” from the U.S. stockpile. He noted the U.S. will replenish its stockpile by making equipment at home, which he argued in turn creates jobs.

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

“We will always make sure that Israel has what it needs to defend itself against Iran and the terrorists it supports,” he said, adding the aid intends 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 make sure all this aid reaches the Palestinians in Gaza.” 

Passage of the legislation comes as Biden faces increasing pressure from other Democrats, activists, Arab and Muslim Americans, and young people to call for a permanent cease-fire in Gaza. Hundreds 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 on Wednesday also noted the foreign aid package doesn’t 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 the Chinese owner of TikTok to divest from the popular app, which more than 140 million Americans use, or face a ban within the United States.

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