The Senate is expected to pass a House-approved package that includes a potential ban on TikTok if its China-based parent company, ByteDance, does not sell the app. The package also includes multi-billion-dollar funding for Israel, Ukraine, and Taiwan. The Senate has voted to invoke cloture on all four pieces of legislation, clearing the way for a final vote as soon as Tuesday evening. The bills received bipartisan support in the House, prompting the Senate to delay its recess to address the foreign aid package.
The Senate also approved a fourth bill within the foreign aid package that would impose sanctions on Russia, China, and Iran. This bill specifically targets China-based TikTok owner ByteDance, mandating the sale of the app within 270 days or face a ban in the U.S. President Biden has indicated he will sign the four bills into law. The funding within the package includes $26 billion for Israel, $61 billion for Ukraine, and $8 billion for Indo-Pacific partners of the United States.
Lawmakers and the administration have raised concerns about potential security risks associated with TikTok, including data privacy and propaganda dissemination. The bill requiring ByteDance to sell the app aims to address these concerns. However, there are expected legal challenges that could delay or prevent the implementation of this legislation. TikTok has denied any connections to the Chinese government and has expressed opposition to potential data sharing.
The Senate’s approval of the foreign aid package comes after former President Trump stalled a similar package earlier in the year. Trump had argued for foreign aid to be provided only in the form of loans. The Senate faced pressure to pass the package due to the escalating conflicts in Ukraine and Israel, highlighting the importance of foreign aid in supporting allies and maintaining international relationships. The current version of the legislation does not include additional border controls.
In a surprising turn of events, Trump defended House Speaker Mike Johnson, who faced threats from right-wing lawmakers for pushing the aid package through the House. Despite the challenges Johnson faced, Trump praised him as a “very good person” and acknowledged the difficulty of passing legislation with a slim majority. The successful passage of the aid package reflects a bipartisan effort to address international concerns and provide support to key allies in the face of ongoing conflicts and geopolitical tensions.
