Key takeaways:
- The Senate failed to pass a key test vote on Wednesday that would have advanced a bill to approve tens of billions of dollars in emergency spending.
- The bill was blocked by Republicans, who demanded stricter U.S.-Mexico border security measures as a condition for their support.
- The Senate will now have to find a way to pass the bill in order to provide the necessary aid, and the future of the aid remains uncertain.
The Senate failed to pass a key test vote on Wednesday that would have advanced a bill to approve tens of billions of dollars in emergency spending, including aid for Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan and other priorities. The vote was 49 to 51, falling short of the 60 votes needed to move it forward.
The bill was blocked by Republicans, who demanded stricter U.S.-Mexico border security measures as a condition for their support. The bill was also opposed by Senator Bernie Sanders, who said he would not support aid to Israel unconditionally unless Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government changed its practice.
The failed vote leaves U.S. aid to Ukraine and Israel on life support on Capitol Hill, even as President Joe Biden makes a dire plea for approving it to stop Russia from conquering Ukraine. Biden’s national security package, which includes the emergency spending, is seen as a crucial step in providing much-needed aid to countries in need.
The Senate will now have to find a way to pass the bill in order to provide the necessary aid. It is unclear at this time what measures will be taken to ensure the bill is passed. In the meantime, the fate of the bill remains uncertain and the future of the aid is in limbo.
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