President Joe Biden has signed a significant $95 billion national security package just 12 hours following the Senate's late-night approval. The package includes substantial foreign aid to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan and introduces legislation compelling the social media platform TikTok to disentangle from its Chinese parent company. Additionally, the act permits the confiscation of Russian assets to support Ukraine's defense efforts against the ongoing conflict.

In a statement after the signing, President Biden declared, “America stands with our friends, we stand up against dictators. We bow to no one, to no one. Certainly not Vladimir Putin.”

The president announced the immediate commencement of aid shipments to Ukraine, including air defense munitions, artillery for rocket systems, and armored vehicles. He also addressed the assistance directed towards Israel, which aims to replenish Israel's air defenses, and the provision of $1 billion for humanitarian aid in Gaza.

The legislation originated in the House of Representatives, where Speaker Mike Johnson led the division of the spending into four separate bills. Each bill required an individual vote and managed to pass with bipartisan support, despite some Republican Congress members objecting.

The breakdown of the votes was as follows: Ukraine received an additional $61 billion with a vote of 311–112, Israel and Gaza received $26.4 billion by 366–58, the Indo-Pacific and Taiwanese security were allocated $8.1 billion with a vote of 385–34, and the measures concerning TikTok's divestment from China and the seizure of Russian assets passed 360–58.

As the bill passed the Senate with a 79-18 vote, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed his gratitude to the Senate and President Biden.

The Senate's vote saw opposition from 15 Republicans, two Democrats—Sens. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) and Peter Welch (D-Vt.)—and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.).

Criticism emerged from within the Republican party, particularly from Sen. Ted Budd (R-N.C.), who expressed concern that the bill neglected U.S. border security issues while addressing those of other nations. Similarly, Sen. Mitch McConnell criticized the Biden administration's handling of the border crisis.

President Biden, addressing the absence of border security measures in the bill, claiming Congress failed to include what he described as the "strongest border security bill this country has ever seen," which he had proposed.

The Epoch Times Article