Tennessee’s two U.S. senators were among only a handful who voted against a bill that will send nearly $100 billion to foreign nations.
Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN) both voted against the Senate’s version of H.R. 815, a bill that was initially meant to help veterans receive more healthcare reimbursements but quickly ballooned into a funding package mainly for the country of Ukraine.
A total of $60.8 billion taxpayer dollars will be sent to help Ukraine defend its borders, while $26.4 billion will be sent to Israel as it fights a war against Hamas. “Indo-Pacific,” mainly Taiwan will receive $8.1 billion.
The pair voted against a similar bill in February, but Tuesday’s bill was passed 79-18, with three senators opting not to vote.
Blackburn kept her promise not to vote for any funding package that tied aid to Ukraine with aid to Israel.
She and Senator Roger Marshall (R-KS) released a statement in October to that effect.
They wrote at the time:
It is critical we give prompt consideration to any request for financial aid or other material support requested by Israel. Based on the breadth of responses from members of Congress, there is a shared urgency to consider such a request
That being said, we know there will no doubt be efforts to attach any funding to Israel to more aid to Ukraine, in excess of the already $113 billion Congress has provided to Ukraine. These are two separate and unrelated conflicts and it would be wrong to leverage support of aid to Israel in attempt to get additional aid for Ukraine across the finish line.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) released a statement saying America’s duty was to protect allies.
“Here’s what I know to be true: American prosperity and security are the products of decades of American leadership,” he reportedly said. “Our global interests come with global responsibilities. Healthy alliances lighten the burden of these responsibilities.”
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) used the bill’s passage to slam Republicans.
“You can get things done and I hope our Republican colleagues have learned that lesson not to listen to the hard right, but to try and work and get things done,” he said.
Continued financial support for Ukraine is deeply unpopular among Republicans. Only 15 percent of Republicans, according to Gallup polling, say the United States is not doing enough to help Ukraine.
Still, only 15 Republican Senators voted against the latest aid package.
– – –
Pete D’Abrosca is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow Pete on Twitter/X.
Photo “Bill Hagerty” by Marsha Blackburn. Photo “Marsha Blackburn” by Marsha Blackburn.
