The U.S. Senate voted 79 to 18 Tuesday night to pass the National Security Supplemental bill with $95 billion in aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan.
U.S. Sen. Katie Britt (R-Montgomery) voted in favor of the "imperfect" bill and praised it for its positive aspects, such as funding Israel, forcing TikTok to divest from China, and investing $378 million in Alabama to bolster missile production.
"This legislation, while imperfect, will make critical strides to reestablish credible American deterrence and move us closer to restoring the peace through strength that President Biden inherited," Britt said in a statement. "I am proud that important bills I have cosponsored will be enacted into law through this package, including crucial measures to combat the fentanyl crisis and restrict Iran's ability to finance further terrorism."
However, U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) came out strong against the package, saying it represented the "swamp at its worst."
"We are a country that is $35 trillion in debt. We are a country whose southern border is wide open thanks to the Biden Administration," Tuberville said from the Senate.
He continued, "Illegal immigrants are invading our country. Drugs, including fentanyl, are flooding across [our borders] and killing hundreds — hundreds — of Americans a day. We are printing money for other countries while inflation continues to crush the American citizen. Not one dollar of this bill is paid. Not one. We will have to print more money or borrow it from China. All to fund foreign wars while we are losing the fight at our own southern border. What we are doing is a slap in the face to the Americans who sent us here to represent them."
Tuberville said the United States should be brokering a diplomatic end to hostilities between Russia and Ukraine and that there was "no justification to prioritize Ukraine's security before our own."
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"The left loves to tell us about threats," he said. "What kills more Americans than the Biden border policy? What kills more Americans than the Biden border policy? Nothing. [This is] the biggest disaster in history since I have been alive and a citizen of this country. Ukraine is losing soldiers, but far fewer than the number of Americans who are dying from fentanyl. We have to take care of our own people before we take care of the rest of the world."
Tuberville was listed as "not voting" for the bill, according to the Senate's website.
Britt explained how, through the Rebuilding Economic Prosperity and Opportunity for Ukrainians (REPO) Act, America can use the Russian assets it has seized to fund Ukraine, roughly $5 billion.
She also praised provisions in the bill to impede the flow of illegal fentanyl into the country and place sanctions on Iran.
"Today marks 200 days since Iranian-backed Hamas terrorists launched barbaric attacks and committed truly evil atrocities in Israel on October 7," Britt said. "... This legislation will not only crack down on Iran and empower Israel with the tools needed to protect herself, but it will also help synagogues and other houses of worship safeguard their congregations in communities across the United States."
Editors note: This article was updated to clarify that Tuberville was recorded as "not voting" regarding the aid bill.
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