House advances $13.6 billion in Ukraine aid along with government funding

https://www.npr.org/2022/03/09/ [login to see] /house-advances-13-6-billion-in-ukraine-aid-along-with-government-funding
The House voted on Wednesday to approve a massive spending package that includes $1.5 trillion in funding to keep the federal government open along with $13.6 billion in emergency aid for Ukraine.

The Senate is expected to vote later this week on the package. The government spending section of the bill would avoid a looming government shutdown by funding operations through the end of the fiscal year on Sept. 30.

The broader package is the result of lengthy bipartisan negotiations that took on new urgency as Congress raced to respond after Russia invaded Ukraine. The overall spending package includes a 5.6%, increase in defense spending over current levels, along with 6.7% increase for nondefense spending.

Leaders insisted on reaching an agreement on government spending in order to avoid extending current funding levels, which do not meet the current budgetary needs of federal agencies.

"This is a dangerous time for the United States and our partners," Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said in a statement on Tuesday. "This compromise legislation will enable us to invest in military modernization to keep pace with Russia and China and urgently deliver the emergency aid that the brave people of Ukraine desperately need."