Top lawmakers agree on $1.5 trillion spending deal, with $13.6 billion going to Ukraine and EU allies

Early on Wednesday, congressional leaders reached a bipartisan deal to provide $13.6 billion in order to assist Ukraine and European allies plus several billions more to battle the pandemic.

The agreement comes as part of an overdue $1.5 trillion measure to finance federal agencies for the remainder of the calendar year.

Even though it only represents a small portion of the enormous bill, the money being sent in response to the Russian invasion of its neighboring country Ukraine which set off Europe’s worst refugee crisis since World War II ensured that the bill would have enough bipartisan support to go through.

President Joe Biden had already requested $10 billion for military, humanitarian, and economic aid last week, but the figure had so much support from Democrats and Republicans that the number climbed to $12 billion on Monday and $13.6 billion the day following.

At the White House, President Biden remarked, “We’re going to support them against tyranny, oppression, violent acts of subjugation.”

Party leaders had hoped to send through the 2,741 page legislation through the House on Wednesday and the Senate by the close of the week, but the exact timing is so far unclear. Lawmakers have been encouraged by the urgency of Ukrainian need before the Russian military might make it too late to help.

Congress also faced a Friday deadline to send through the government-wide spending measure or face a federal shutdown on the weekend of an election year. The House planned to pass a bill on Wednesday to keep agencies afloat through March 15 to prevent delays.

“War in Europe has focused the energies of Congress to getting something done and getting it done fast,” said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York.