WASHINGTON — The Senate on Tuesday overwhelmingly handed a $95 billion bundle to supply important assist to Ukraine and enact a provision that might lead to a national ban on TikTok.
The vote of 79-18 sends the bundle to the White House. Fifteen Republicans and 3 Democrats voted towards the regulation. The House handed the bundle on Saturday.
Biden mentioned Tuesday evening that he’s going to unexpectedly enact the measure.
“I will sign this bill into law and address the American people as soon as it reaches my desk tomorrow so we can begin sending weapons and equipment to Ukraine this week,” he mentioned in a observation. “This critical legislation will make our nation and world more secure as we support our friends who are defending themselves against terrorists like Hamas and tyrants like Putin.”
The bundle comprises $60 billion in assist to Ukraine that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned would give his nation “a chance at victory” towards Russia. It additionally comprises $26 billion in help to Israel and humanitarian aid in Gaza, as well as to $8 billion for safety in Taiwan and the Indo-Pacific.
And it is going to give TikTok’s China-based father or mother corporate 9 months, which the president may lengthen to a 12 months, to promote the preferred social media platform or be banned within the U.S. That places TikTok nearer than ever sooner than to a prohibition whilst making sure that it gained’t be banned till after the 2024 election. TikTok has mentioned it is going to struggle the legislation in court docket as soon as it’s signed into legislation.
“Finally, finally, finally. Tonight after more than six months of hard work, and many twists and turns in the road, America sends a message to the entire world: We will not turn our back on you,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., mentioned at the Senate ground moments sooner than the vote.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., heralded Tuesday as “an important day for America” after months of GOP infighting over whether or not to stay funding Ukraine. McConnell mentioned “we’ve turned the corner on the isolationist movement” and attributed the extend to two males: former Fox News anchor Tucker Carlson for his “demonization of Ukraine” and former President Donald Trump for his “mixed views” and previous resistance to serving to the rustic.
Two months in the past, the Senate voted 70-29 to move a equivalent $95 billion overseas assist bundle — however with out the TikTok provision. Still, the Senate proved receptive to the TikTok ban bill, which the House revised. An previous House-passed bill would have given the father or mother corporate six months to promote TikTok, not up to the present one.
Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., the chair of the Commerce Committee, counseled the brand new bill, pronouncing she’s “very happy” with the prolonged window for TikTok to be offered. Cantwell famous that she advisable the trade.
“I support this updated legislation,” she mentioned.
Advocates for banning the app within the U.S. specific considerations about TikTok’s courting to ByteDance, an organization founded in Beijing, pronouncing Americans’ knowledge may, beneath Chinese legislation, be accessed through China’s executive, a prospect that TikTok has downplayed, pronouncing its headquarters are in Singapore and Los Angeles. They additionally declare China may manipulate the set of rules to advance propaganda.
A TikTok spokesperson spoke back to the House’s vote over the weekend through pronouncing, “It is unfortunate that the House of Representatives is using the cover of important foreign and humanitarian assistance to once again jam through a ban bill that would trample the free speech rights of 170 million Americans, devastate 7 million businesses, and shutter a platform that contributes $24 billion to the U.S. economy annually.”
A supply inside of TikTok shared an inner memo despatched after the House handed the bill that mentioned that after Biden indicators it into legislation, it “will move to the courts for a legal challenge.”
Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, lobbied his colleagues to reject the bundle, pronouncing 41 senators may sign up for to filibuster it.
“The $95 billion bill doesn’t have to pass. It takes only 41 senators stop it,” Lee wrote on X. “There are 49 Republicans in the Senate—more than enough. Where do your senators stand?”
In the top, he fell a ways brief.
Savannah Sellers and Syedah Asghar contributed.