The United States will “within hours” dispatch sorely needed weapons to aid Ukraine’s fight against Russia’s invading forces after President Joe Biden’s signature on a $95 billion security appropriations bill ended a months-long standoff fuelled by isolationist Republican opposition.
Mr Biden signed the long-awaited legislation at the White House on Wednesday, less than 24 hours after the Senate voted to approve it by a margin of 78 votes in favour and 18 against.
Speaking from the White House State Dining Room just after he put pen to paper, Mr Biden said the day was “ a good day “for America … a good day for Europe,” and “for world peace, for real”.
“This is consequential,” he said, adding that law he’d just signed would “make America safer” and “make the world safer” while continuing “American leadership in the world”.
“It gives vital support to America’s partners … so they can defend themselves against threats to their sovereignty, and the lives and freedom of their citizens”.
He also called the new spending law “an investment in our own security, because when our allies are stronger … we are stronger”.
“I’m grateful. We’re all grateful to all those in Congress, Democrats, Republicans, independents who voted for this bill. Its path to my desk … was a difficult path. It should have been easier and should have gotten there sooner. But in the end we did it … we rose to the moment came together, and we got it done,” he said.
The president’s signature on the supplemental spending legislation put an end to a months-long blockade staged by Republicans in Congress who had threatened to remove House Speaker Mike Johnson from his post if he allowed a vote on any legislation to fund Ukrainian defence needs.
It provides roughly $61 billion for Ukraine and replenishing American weapons stockpiles that have been drawn down to provide ammunition to the Ukrainian armed forces over the last year. The bill also provides $9 billion in forgivable loans for economic assistance to Kyiv.
For Israel and Gaza, there is a combined $26 billion now appropriated, including $4 billion for Israel’s missile defence systems and another $9 billion intended for humanitarian assistance to Gaza.
Mr Biden thanked Mr Johnson, along with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and Majority Leader Chuck Schumer for pushing the bill through their respective chambers.
“They don’t always agree. But when it matters most. They stepped up and did the right thing … sincerely history will remember this time,” he said, adding later that the two major parties had come together “time and time again … on the critical issues” over the last three years.
“When it came time to stand with Ukraine and Israel and help the people of Gaza, we did that as well. At the end of the day, most of us whether we’re Democrats, Republicans or independents believe that America must stand up for what is right. We don’t walk away from our allies, we stand with them. We don’t let tyrants when we oppose them. We don’t really watch global events unfold, we shape them. That’s what it means to be the indispensable nation. That’s amazed to be the world’s superpower and the world’s leading democracy,” he said.
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