(VOVWORLD) - The US Senate on Friday edged closer to passing a bill that includes 95.3 billion USD in aid for several partners including Ukraine and Israel, but faces an uncertain path to becoming law due to Republican opposition in both chambers of Congress.
 US Senator Mitt Romney speaks with members of the media ahead of a Senate vote to begin work on a bill that includes aid for Ukraine, Israel and China's Taiwan in Washington, on February 9, 2024. (REUTERS) |
The Senate voted 64-19 to advance the legislation one step along a chain of preliminary votes that could stretch into next week, unless party leaders can reach agreement with rank-and-file lawmakers to fast-track the bill. Lawmakers expect to take the next procedural step in a rare Sunday session.
In Friday's vote, the bill cleared a simple majority threshold with 14 Republicans supporting the measure.
If the legislation ultimately passes the Senate, it will face an uncertain future in the Republican-controlled House of Representatives, where Speaker Mike Johnson has indicated he could split the aid into separate bills.
Johnson spoke a day after the House rejected a stand-alone aid bill for Israel.