Senate Republicans, unified behind President Donald Trump’s multibillion-dollar spending rescission package, have advanced the legislation through a critical procedural vote with the assistance of Vice President JD Vance. The bill now moves to a 10-hour debate, during which Senate Democrats are expected to criticize its proposed cuts to foreign aid and public broadcasting.
The $9 billion package passed the procedural stage with near-unanimous support from Senate Republicans, while all Democrats voted in opposition. Senators Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Susan Collins of Maine, and Mitch McConnell of Kentucky were the only Republicans to vote against the measure.
Following the debate, the Senate will enter a “vote-a-rama,” a process allowing for an unlimited number of amendments. Democrats are anticipated to introduce measures aimed at derailing the package. Meanwhile, Republicans are expected to offer a key amendment to restore approximately $400 million in funding for international HIV and AIDS prevention programs.
This amendment, which would spare the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), was pre-negotiated to secure the votes of several concerned Senate Republicans and is backed by the White House.
However, altering the bill could create a challenge in the House, where Speaker Mike Johnson and members of the fiscally conservative House Freedom Caucus have insisted the Senate pass the legislation without changes. They have warned of significant issues if the bill is modified.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune expressed hope that the House would ultimately approve the revised bill ahead of a looming Friday deadline. “There was a lot of interest among our members in doing something on the PEPFAR issue,” Thune stated before the vote. “We hope that if we can get this across the finish line in the Senate… the House will accept that one small modification.”
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