Pentagon's record budget with aid for Ukraine heads for Biden's signature
President of the United States Joe Biden (Photo: Getty Images)
The House-approved bill on annual defense spending totaling a record $886 billion for the Pentagon was submitted for President Joe Biden's signature today, December 14. The document outlines hundreds of millions in aid for Ukraine, according to The Hill.
The bill on defense policy in the United States includes, among other things, $11.5 billion to counter China in the Indo-Pacific region and an additional $800 million to support Ukraine in combating Russia's widescale military aggression.
The defense policy bill received support with 310 votes "for" and 118 votes "against," including 45 Democrats and 73 Republicans.
The House of Representatives passed the bill, suspending the rule requiring a two-thirds majority vote.
The final version of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), agreed upon by both the House of Representatives and the Senate, overcame resistance from conservative lawmakers who opposed the exclusion of several amendments made by the House of Representatives earlier in the year.
Background
Previously, today the U.S. Senate supported a defense policy bill that allocates a record $886 billion for annual military spending. However, President Biden's proposal for $61 billion in aid to Ukraine is expected to be considered separately.
The bill received strong support from both Democrats and Republicans, overcoming party differences on social issues.
It's worth noting that the bill extends one measure of aid to Ukraine—the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative—through the end of 2026, allowing $300 million to be allocated to the program in the fiscal year ending on September 30, 2024, and the following year.
Earlier, Biden asked Congress to approve $61 billion in aid to Ukraine. However, this request for emergency spending stalled in Congress as Republicans refused to approve aid to Ukraine until Democrats agreed to significant changes in immigration legislation.
Additionally, on December 14, the U.S. Congress decided to adjourn for the winter recess without passing additional funding for Ukraine ahead of Christmas.
