A U.S. aid package for Ukraine and its Eastern European allies has grown to around $14 billion
Lawmakers had other motivations to approve the overall bill as well. Failure to do so by Saturday would prompt an election-year shutdown of federal agencies, a damaging blow that lawmakers were eager to avoid. And the legislation contained wins for both parties.
Schumer said there would be money for Biden's “Cancer Moonshot” to find a cure for the disease and increases for Pell grants for lower-income college students. Still unresolved was whether to include programs protecting women against domestic violence and strengthening the country's cybersecurity, Schumer said.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said the measure would provide loan guarantees to Poland to help it replace aircraft it is sending Ukraineto help it fend off Russia. “It's been like pulling teeth" to get Democrats to agree to some of the defense spending, he said. But he added, “It's an important step. It needs to be passed. It needs to be passed quickly."
House leaders were hoping that chamber could approve the legislation on Wednesday, sending it to the Senate. Debate there could last days.