Biden Signs Ukraine Aid Bill into Law
President Joe Biden signed a landmark bill into law on Wednesday, providing billions of dollars in new U.S. aid to Ukraine in its war against Russia. This bipartisan victory marks a significant step for the president as he seeks reelection and concludes months of negotiations with Republicans in Congress.
The bill allocates $61 billion in aid to Ukraine, $26 billion to Israel, $1 billion in humanitarian assistance to Gaza, and $8 billion to counter China's military expansion. The impact was immediate, with Biden approving an initial $1 billion in weapons supplies for Ukraine, with deliveries commencing within hours.
This initial package includes vehicles, air defense munitions, ammunition for artillery systems, anti-tank munitions, and other battlefield-ready weapons. The legislation also includes a ban on TikTok in the United States if its owner, ByteDance, fails to divest the app within the next year.
The bill's passage sends a clear message to Russian President Vladimir Putin, whose military has made recent gains in Ukraine. "He's failed again," Biden declared. "America stands with our friends. ... We bow to no one, no one, certainly not Vladimir Putin."
The legislation's approval was preceded by months of deadlock, with Republicans initially objecting to the Ukraine aid. However, the House of Representatives abruptly changed course, approving four bills that included funding for Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan, and other U.S. partners. The Senate followed suit, passing the sweeping bill on Tuesday evening.
While the bill's passage is a victory for U.S. allies and for Biden, experts note that the delay in funding has had negative consequences for Ukraine on the battlefield. "This is a strong message of American leadership at a time of enormous instability, but the delay created cracks in that credibility," said Heather Conley, president of the German Marshall Fund of the United States.
Despite the delay, the bill's passage underscores Biden's commitment to restoring U.S. credibility on the world stage, strengthening the NATO alliance, and presenting a united front against Putin. Republicans who supported the bill emphasized that their decision reflected their party's values of "peace through strength.