Exploring the Foreign Aid Package for Ukraine, Israel, and Beyond

The Senate approved a foreign aid package on Tuesday, which includes funding for Ukraine, Israel, and the Indo-Pacific region. The House also passed the aid package, consisting of four different bills, on Saturday. This comes after the Senate initially passed legislation months ago, providing aid specifically for Ukraine and Israel.

The new legislation, now awaiting President Joe Biden's signature, includes several House GOP priorities such as sanctions on Iran, the seizure of frozen Russian assets, and a potential nationwide ban on TikTok.

The aid allocated for Ukraine, Israel, and the Indo-Pacific region totals approximately $95 billion, mirroring the amount proposed in the Senate bill passed in February. It's worth noting that $10 billion of the assistance designated for Ukraine is structured as a repayable loan.

Here’s what’s included in the foreign aid package, according to summaries provided by House Republicans:

Nearly $61 billion for Ukraine

The legislation allocates close to $61 billion to support Ukraine and neighboring countries in countering Russia - a similar amount to the previous Senate bill.

Of this total, approximately $23 billion is designated for replenishing US weapons, supplies, and infrastructure, while over $11 billion will go towards funding ongoing US military activities in the region.

Nearly $14 billion included in the bill would help Ukraine buy advanced weapons systems and other defense equipment.

More than $26 billion for Israel

The package includes $26.4 billion to help Israel defend itself against Iran and its allies, as well as to cover US military responses to recent attacks.

Specifically, $4 billion is allocated for the Iron Dome and David’s Sling missile defense systems, while $1.2 billion is designated for the Iron Beam defense system, which targets short-range rockets and mortar threats.

The bill would allocate $4.4 billion to replenish defense items and services for Israel, as well as $3.5 billion for the procurement of advanced weapons systems through the Foreign Military Financing Program. It would also allow for more flexibility in transferring defense items from US stockpiles in other countries to Israel. Additionally, the bill would prevent funds from being sent to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), which has faced criticism after allegations of staff involvement in a recent attack by Hamas.

Furthermore, the bill includes $9.2 billion in humanitarian assistance, providing emergency food, shelter, and basic services to populations in crisis.

The previous Senate bill would have given $14.1 billion in aid to Israel for missile defense and military financing to enhance security and deterrence, along with $9.2 billion in humanitarian assistance.

Additionally, over $8 billion would be allocated for Indo-Pacific security.

The package has $8.1 billion allocated to address China's actions in the Indo-Pacific region. This includes $3.3 billion for submarine infrastructure development, $2 billion in foreign military financing for Taiwan and other key allies, and $1.9 billion to replenish defense items and services for Taiwan and regional partners.

The previous Senate bill also had similar provisions aimed at enhancing security in the region.

Potential TikTok ban

One hot-button provision of the package could lead to a possible nationwide ban of TikTok, the popular social media app with links to China.

House Republicans hoped that by including the TikTok bill in the aid package, the Senate would quickly vote on a measure to protect Americans' personal data from the Chinese government. However, opponents, including TikTok and various civil society groups, argue that the bill may violate the First Amendment rights of TikTok users.

The legislation passed on Tuesday outlines a nine-month period for TikTok's Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to sell the social media platform. Failure to meet this deadline would result in TikTok being banned from US app stores. This timeframe is longer than the approximately six months considered in previous bills. Additionally, the president has the option to extend the deadline by an additional 90 days if there has been progress towards a sale.

The changes appear aimed at addressing concerns by some senators that the original six-month deadline may have been too short.

Iran sanctions, Russian assets

House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul describes the legislation as having the most extensive sanctions against Iran passed by Congress in years.

The sanctions would target ports and refineries that handle Iranian oil, as well as individuals involved in activities covered by the expired UN missile embargo on Iran or in the sale of Iran's missiles and drones. Additionally, the legislation would tighten restrictions on the export of US goods and technology to Iran.

The legislation would give the executive branch the authority to take and transfer frozen Russian assets in the US to Ukraine for support in their fight and reconstruction efforts. House Speaker Mike Johnson is considering the REPO Act to assist Ukraine.

Top officials in the Biden administration, along with G7 allies like Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the European Union, are collaborating on a new plan to aid Ukraine. This plan would need approval from Congress. The majority of Russia's frozen central bank assets are held by the EU, with the US only holding approximately $5 billion, according to CNN.

The package will also impose necessary penalties on Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and other Palestinian terrorist organizations.

This headline and story now include more details.

CNN’s Lauren Fox, Haley Talbot, Melanie Zanona and Natasha Bertrand contributed to this report.

Editor's P/S:

The recently approved foreign aid package is a testament to the United States' commitment to supporting its allies and addressing global challenges. The substantial funding provided to Ukraine, Israel, and the Indo-Pacific region underscores the importance of providing assistance to those facing threats from Russia, Iran, and China. It is crucial that these funds are utilized effectively to strengthen their defenses, enhance stability, and promote regional security.

Moreover, the inclusion of provisions to sanction Iran, seize frozen Russian assets for Ukraine, and potentially ban TikTok raises complex legal and policy questions. The potential impact on free speech, the privacy of TikTok users, and the delicate balance between diplomacy and economic pressure requires careful consideration. It is imperative that lawmakers strike a balance between addressing national security concerns and upholding fundamental rights and freedoms.