Senators Boozman, Cotton split vote on $95.3 billion foreign aid bill

Written By ApurbaDa February 13, 2024 Add Comment

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – The Arkansas Senate delegation split its vote on a $95.3 billion foreign aid bill passed on Tuesday.

The emergency funding bill contains weapons support for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, as well as humanitarian aid to Gaza and the West Bank and other war zones, including Ukraine. It also funded American military munitions that were depleted in order to provide for Ukraine’s defense.

Sen. John Boozman voted in favor of the bill with 21 other Republicans, while Republican Sen. Tom Cotton was one of the 29 who voted against it.

Boozman released a statement talking about the importance of the spending package in supporting America’s role as a global leader.

“An increasingly dangerous world underscores the need for strong, reliable and resolute American leadership,” his statement read. “The Senate has taken the first step to ensure the U.S. continues to play this vital role, especially with respect to supporting key partners and allies facing serious threats, as well as replenishing our own lethal munitions and equipment to deter conflict.

Boozman added that Congress should act on border security.

Cotton gave several reasons for not supporting the bill, including that “The Senate spent four months promising to secure our own border before focusing on other countries’ borders,” apparently referring to the U.S. border security provisions that were dropped from the bill during negotiations.

He was also concerned that the Gaza aid would ultimately support Hamas, and a “huge chunk” of the bill’s financial support was “for Ukraine’s government, not defense.”

The bill has $8 billion set aside for Ukraine’s government, with some restrictions. It has $60 billion for Ukraine's weapons, including replenishing American munitions.

“Instead of sending aid to Hamas, how about we don’t spend that money when we have $1 trillion deficits? Or, if we must spend it, spend it on our defense?” the senator said, adding later, “We must close and secure our border. We must support Israel, and we must not do anything to help Hamas. And we must make America strong again.”

The bill will now move to the House for a vote, where it is expected to have a much more difficult time being passed by its narrow Republican-controlled majority to continue to push for border reforms in lieu of foreign aid.

from KARK https://ift.tt/6TSCwQm