Congress Passes $1.5 Trillion Spending Bill To Avoid Shutdown; Help Ukraine
By Jason Hall
March 11, 2022
The United States Senate passed a $1.5 trillion spending bill, which will included $13.6 devoted to emergency aid for Ukraine, prior to its Friday (March 11) deadline, avoiding a government shutdown from taking place, NBC News reports.
The legislation was passed by a 68-31 vote after initially being approved by the U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday (March 9) and is expected to be signed by President Joe Biden before federal government funding expires Friday night.
The federal government will now be funded through September 30, with increases for both defense and nondefense programs over 2021 levels, as well as billions funded to aid Ukraine, included as part of the spending bill.
The Ukraine-related spending will include a significant amount focused on humanitarian aid, as well as $6.5 billion to fund the Defense Department, $3.5 billion to provide new equipment sent to the Eastern European country and $3 billion for U.S. troops currently assisting NATO member states in Europe, NBC News reports.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has specified that he wants NATO and other allies to impose a no-fly zone over the Ukraine amid Russia's ongoing aerial attacks during its two-week invasion of the neighboring country, though the U.S. and other Western allies have rejected the notion.
More than 2 million people have reportedly evacuated Ukraine amid Russia's ongoing invasion of the neighboring country as both sides agreed to a cease-fire to allow more civilians to escape, NBC News reported on Wednesday (March 8).
Putin announced his country would conduct military operations in Eastern Ukraine during an NBC News translation of a speech addressing the Russian population prior to sunrise on February 24 in Moscow.
The announcement served as the final action ahead of an attack by Putin and the Russian military, which the U.S. and European allies to the neighboring Ukraine have attempted to prevent from taking place through diplomatic discussions.
A Ukraine interior minister confirmed to NBC News via text message that "cruise and ballistic missile strikes" were already underway shortly after Putin's announcement.
NBC News correspondent Erin McLaughlin said explosions could be heard from her live shot in Kyiv, Ukraine's capital city, at 6:00 a.m. local time.
More than 1,000 protesters were reportedly arrested during anti-war protests throughout Russia amid President Putin's announcement to conduct military operations and ensuing attack on Ukraine, BNO News reported.