Montana Senators react to passage of foreign aid bill

HELENA, Mont. (KUMV) – More than $95 billion in foreign aid was approved by Congress and signed by President Joe Biden.

The final hurdle was cleared on Tuesday after the Senate passed the package in a 79 to 18 vote. The bill consists of more than $60 billion to Ukraine and $26 billion to Israel.

Both Sens. Steve Daines, R-MT, and Jon Tester, D-MT, voted in support of the package.

“As Presidents Reagan and Trump showed, peace is best achieved through strength; weakness in the face of ruthless enemies is a surefire way to start new wars that involve American troops. This bill provides critical, lethal aid to Israel as they defend themselves from terrorists. With antisemitism raging on our college campuses, it sends a very strong message to those who threaten Jews and chant ‘Death to America,’ that America stands with Israel,” said Daines.

While Daines supported the bill, he said he was frustrated there was nothing in there for the U.S. Southern border.

“Terrorists are crossing into our country every single day, but unfortunately, the Biden Administration and my colleagues on the other side of the aisle refuse to support policies that would meaningfully address this threat,” said Daines.

Meanwhile, Tester said he voted for the bill to counter foreign adversaries, including China, Russia and Iran.

“America’s foreign adversaries like China, Russia and Iran want nothing more than to take our place as the world’s leading military and economic superpower, and I voted with Republicans and Democrats to make sure that won’t happen,” said Tester in a statement.

Tester said he also secured an amendment in the bill that aims to impose economic sanctions on those engaged in the international trafficking of illicit fentanyl— chemicals used to make fentanyl— and would declare international trafficking of fentanyl as a national emergency. He introduced the Fentanyl Eradication and Narcotics Deterrence (FEND) Off Fentanyl Act back in 2023.

“This targeted, bipartisan package will keep Montanans safe at home by cracking down on the fentanyl epidemic that is devastating our communities, and it will strengthen our security abroad by countering our adversaries and standing firm with our allies,” said Tester in a statement.

The package could also result in a ban on TikTok if the Chinese-owned company doesn’t sell within nine months.

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