Senate Takes Another Step Toward Passing $95 Billion Foreign Military Aid Bill

The Senate on Sunday took another step toward passing a $95 billion foreign military aid bill that includes funding for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan.

The Senate worked through the weekend to deliberate the legislation and voted 67-26 in a procedural vote to move it forward. The chamber held a similar vote last Thursday to deliberate on the legislation, which also passed with 67 votes in favor.

The final vote is expected to happen sometime this week, but it’s unclear when that will happen as Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) continues to vow to do anything he can to delay it.

Paul said he would hold out until “hell freezes over” and indicated he would delay the vote by speaking about the national debt on the Senate floor.

“I love to talk,” Paul said, according to CNN. “That’s one of my favorite things to do. Yes, and I slept all day yesterday waiting for this. I’m going to take Adderall — nah, I’m just kidding.”

According to NBC News, Paul estimated on Sunday that a final vote would likely be held on Tuesday or Wednesday after he exhausts his ability to delay it.

If all 100 senators agreed to hold a final vote, it would happen much more quickly. Proponents of the bill believe that the procedural vote is a preview of the final vote, so they expect it to ultimately pass.

“I think we’re going to pass this spending bill for Ukraine. We’ve already moved past several procedural hurdles that require 60 votes. I think there will be 60 votes in the end,” said Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT).

The bill is what’s left after Democrats stripped border provisions from a $118 billion piece of legislation that was negotiated with Republicans. Senate Republicans initially agreed on the deal, but later came out against it once it became clear it wouldn’t make it through the House. At this point, it’s unclear if the $95 billion foreign military aid bill will be brought to a vote in the House.