The US Senate adjourned Wednesday evening still in search of two more Republicans who will vote for a stand-alone bill for U.S. assistance to Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan.
The chamber will now hold a procedural vote Thursday on a $95 billion national security package with money for the three U.S. allies.
“We will recess until tomorrow and give our Republican colleagues the night to figure themselves out,” said Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer, New York Democrat.
At least eight Senate Republicans indicated they were prepared to advance the foreign aid without the border deal, a remarkable reversal from prior GOP demands to include immigration policies.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky was among the Republicans on board with the aid.
“If America fails to stand with our partners on the front lines in Europe and the Middle East, we will shred our credibility with friends in the Indo-Pacific,” Mr. McConnell said.
Some Republicans were seeking amendment votes on illegal immigration, despite hours earlier voting against the border deal.
Sen. James Lankford of Oklahoma, Republicans’ chief negotiator for the border provisions, borrowed a talking point from Democrats to accuse his GOP colleagues of playing election-year politics with a
contentious policy.
The foreign aid bill would still need final approval, if advanced on Thursday. That could come as soon as later this week before the Senate embarks on a two-week
recess.
But even if it clears the upper chamber, it would still need to pass in the Republican-
controlled House of Representatives.