The House of Representatives passed a package of about $40 billion in additional aid money for Ukraine Tuesday night, $7 billion more than President Joe Biden requested from Congress.
"The additional resources included in this bill will allow us to send more weapons, such as artillery, armored vehicles, and ammunition, to Ukraine. And they will help us replenish our stockpile and support U.S. troops on NATO territory," Press Secretary Jen Psaki said in a statement Tuesday night.
Following precedent, there was bipartisan support for helping Ukraine — the measure passed with 57 Republicans voting against it. The bill was originally connected to a request for more pandemic funding, but Biden conceded to separating the two, which Republicans applauded.
The bill will head to the Senate for a vote next. Biden urged Congress members to pass it as soon as possible, as he has "nearly exhausted" the existing aid money for Ukraine.
Latest developments:
►Leonid Kravchuk, who led Ukraine to independence during the collapse of the Soviet Union and served as its first president, died Tuesday, Ukrainian officials said. He was 88.
►Lt. Gen. Scott Berrier, who leads the Defense Intelligence Agency, said Tuesday that eight to 10 Russian generals have been killed during the war in Ukraine.
►Ukraine’s natural gas pipeline operator said Wednesday it would stop Russian shipments through a key hub in the east of the country.