Bipartisan legislation authorizing American assistance to Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan, along with additional U.S. military spending, was signed into law by Democratic President Joe Biden Wednesday after winning Senate approval late Tuesday night.
Records show the two Republicans representing Indiana in the Senate split their vote on the $95 billion measure, with U.S. Sen. Todd Young joining the 79 senators in favor of the proposal, and U.S. Sen. Mike Braun among 18 senators voting "no."
Young, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said it's essential at this time to stand with America's "allies and partners" on the front lines when U.S. interests are under threat from Iran, Russia and China.
"If we want to meet these connected threats, we need to use our diplomatic leverage, maintain a strong military, and stand with our allies and partners," Young said. "We cannot abandon these allies and partners as they face existential threats."
Young said he understands the impulse among some Americans to withdraw from global leadership and turn inward. But he said the cost of divestment will grow substantially if the United States no longer is at the top of the world order.
"Abandoning our allies and partners will empower and embolden authoritarian powers such as China and Russia. Leadership comes with a price, but it also comes with rewards," Young said.
In particular, Young noted the legislation funds investment in America's defense industrial base, which he said has diminished significantly in recent years.
"Restoring our military readiness — from artillery and submarines to semiconductors — is critical not to promoting war but to deterring conflict and furthering America’s global interests," Young said.
In contrast, Braun said he was "proud to stand up for you and vote against the Biden spending spree," since it doesn't include money to secure the U.S.-Mexico border.
Braun, in fact, skipped a debate between the Republican candidates for Indiana governor Tuesday to stay in Washington, D.C., and vote against the legislation — even though Braun's "no" vote was irrelevant to the final outcome of the Senate roll call.
In any case, border security legislation is unlikely to advance this year in Congress after Republican former President Donald Trump in February told his allies, including Braun, he'd rather campaign on the issue than see Biden get new tools for addressing it.
Northwest Indiana's representative in the House, U.S. Rep. Frank J. Mrvan, D-Highland, last week voted in favor of the foreign aid package, which also includes provisions to combat fentanyl distribution and to potentially ban the TikTok video sharing service.
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