The House of Representatives cleared a $40 billion aid package for Ukraine on Tuesday evening, as the country continues to be attacked by Russia.
Only Democrats and Republicans crossed party lines, resulting in a 217-202 vote in favor of the enormous relief package. Four Democrats and seven Republicans voted against the bill being signed into law.
The package includes $67 million for the Justice Department to auction seized yachts from Russian oligarchs, as well as funds from COVID for the war-torn Eastern European country.
Following the resolution’s passing, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi approached the podium to address, mentioning several times her role as the leader of a Democratic delegation to Poland and her surprise travel there.
‘The recently passed legislation will have an immediate and significant difference to what is happening in Ukraine,’ she said.
‘Time is of the importance as Putin accelerates his campaign of horror and cruelty in Ukraine. That’s why we’re overjoyed to learn that we’ll be able to go forward with this bill right away and get it on the president’s desk so that the aid can reach the Ukrainian people,’ Pelosi said following the vote.
‘We can’t afford to lose time.’
Republicans, on the other hand, are opposed to the deal, stating that sending billions of dollars out of the country is a bad idea.
‘With this aid package, America sends a loud message to the world of our unflinching determination to stand with the brave people of Ukraine until victory is won,’ Pelosi said earlier Tuesday.
For the Ukrainians, lawmakers upped President Joe Biden’s original $33 billion request by $3.4 billion in military aid and $3.4 billion in humanitarian aid.
The funds include $67 million for the Department of Justice’s General Administration department to help cover the costs of seizing, detaining, and selling forfeited property related to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, such as Russian oligarchs’ yachts.