US lawmakers sign off on $14 billion for Ukraine

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On Wednesday, US senators approved nearly $14 billion in aid for Ukraine, as part of a massive plan to finance federal agencies and prevent a catastrophic government shutdown.

Biden signed HR 6617 into law, also known as the "Further Additional Extending Government Funding Act," providing the fiscal year 2022 appropriations to Federal agencies through March 11, allowing the Federal Government to continue its projects ad activities.

Less than 48 hours before the Friday-Saturday midnight deadline, the House of Representatives approved over $1.5 trillion in spending through September.

Before the budget can be signed into law, the Senate must approve the plan.

In a joint statement, Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer called Russia's special military operation an "illegal and immoral invasion," citing the funding will be used by Ukrainians and allies in the region to fight the alleged invasion.

The lower chamber also passed a four-day "continuing resolution" to keep government agencies operational until next Tuesday.

The members were compelled to adhere to the strict timeframe because Democrats were scheduled to spend the remainder of the working week at a retreat in Philadelphia.

National security needs

Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell claimed that the time is "dangerous" for the US and its partners, adding that "this bipartisan government funding agreement is the major step forward that our national security needs."

The funding provides $782 billion in defense funding, a jump from Biden's original request of $715 billion.

The proposal contains $730 billion in non-defense funding, representing a 6.7% increase over 2021 and the greatest increase in four years.

Although Democratic Party Lawmakers had reservations about increases in defense expenditure, they supported the increases in domestic spending and enabled the package to go to the Senate.

However, progressives objected to a clause that would provide $15.6 billion to finance the Biden administration's Covid-19 initiative, forcing it to be removed from the omnibus measure.

Republicans have refused to support any additional funding for the federal pandemic response, while Democrats have agreed to remove funds from current programs, including $7 billion given to state governments in the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan

British Foreign Minister Liz Truss on Wednesday called on the entire G7 to ban Russian oil imports, copying America's step on Tuesday when President Joe Biden took the decision to ban the oil imports from Russia into the country in a bid to stifle Moscow's economy.