CBS News
Watch Live: Biden to speak about foreign aid bill passed by Congress
Washington — President Biden is set to speak from the White House about a long-sought foreign aid package that provides assistance to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, along with a measure that could lead to a ban on TikTok.
The Senate passed the package in a bipartisan vote Tuesday evening, and the president has said he will sign it. The Pentagon plans to send a roughly $1 billion weapons package to Ukraine once it’s signed into law, U.S. officials said earlier in the week.
The White House first sought the foreign aid more than six months ago, kicking off a turbulent path to passage that at times looked doomed amid conservative opposition to Ukraine aid. But the $95 billion package ultimately saw wide bipartisan margins of support. And after an unexpected turn from House Speaker Mike Johnson, the House approved the legislation over the weekend.
The package includes $60.8 billion in aid for Ukraine; $26.4 billion to support Israel, along with humanitarian aid for Gaza; and $8.1 billion for allies in the Indo-Pacific. The legislation also features provisions to allow the sale of frozen assets of Russian oligarchs and a measure that could ban TikTok if it isn’t sold within a year.
Although many congressional Republicans had opposed aid to Ukraine without addressing domestic border security, enough members ultimately coalesced behind the aid in both chambers to join with Democrats to approve the assistance without immigration provisions. A bipartisan group of senators worked for months to negotiate border security reforms to accompany the aid. But that agreement fell apart after former President Donald Trump urged GOP lawmakers to reject the deal.
After the aid package with border security components fell short, the Senate passed the assistance on its own. But Johnson blocked the bill from being brought up in the House, saying that the lower chamber would find its own path forward.
Ultimately, the aid package, which the House passed in four separate bills before it was sent to the Senate as a single passage, closely resembles what the Senate approved months ago. But it did include provisions to make it more palatable to Republicans, like offsetting the Ukraine aid with a partial loan structure and allowing the sale of Russian oligarch’s frozen assets.
The TikTok provision came as a late addition to the foreign aid, after the House had approved a standalone bill earlier in the year. The widely popular video-sharing app, which is owned by a China-based company, has been under fire by U.S. officials in recent years amid warnings that China’s government could gain access to its data and use it to spy on or manipulate Americans. But the standalone bill that could lead to a ban of the app faced some headwinds in the Senate.
The final TikTok provision included in the foreign aid package would force TikTok’s parent company to sell the app within a year, a deadline which will notably come after November’s election and is an extension from the initial House bill. Despite pushback from some young voters and a lobbying campaign against the move by TikTok, key opposition to the provision ultimately dissipated.
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$100 million in federal funds released for North Carolina to rebuild roads, bridges damaged by Helene
Washington, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Transportation released $100 million in emergency funds on Saturday for North Carolina to rebuild its roads and bridges damaged by Helene.
“We are providing this initial round of funding so there’s no delay getting roads repaired and reopened, and re-establishing critical routes,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg in a statement. “The Biden-Harris administration will be with North Carolina every step of the way, and today’s emergency funding to help get transportation networks back up and running safely will be followed by additional federal resources.”
The storm caused rampant flooding that has devastated several towns and killed more than 225 people – with CBS News confirming at least 114 people killed in North Carolina. There was more than 8 inches of rain across the western North Carolina mountains, with some areas seeing more than a foot.
Hundreds of roads across Western North Carolina remain closed, leading to an increase in air traffic as teams scour the region for survivors by air. Air traffic over Western North Carolina has increased by 300% due to relief efforts since the storm cleared, the Federal Aviation Administration and the North Carolina Department of Transportation.
Mudslides blocked Interstate 40 and other highways in North Carolina and about 400 roads were closed due to damage from Helene. Interstate 40 was damaged at several locations, the Department of Transportation said.
President Biden visited the Carolinas on Wednesday, surveying the flood damage by air from Greenville, South Carolina, to Asheville, North Carolina. Mr. Biden announced the federal government would cover “100%” of all debris removal and emergency protective measure costs in North Carolina for six months.
The Department of Transportation said these relief funds will allow the North Carolina Department of Transportation to act more quickly to fund eligible repairs to their damaged facilities.
Li Cohen and
contributed to this report.
CBS News
Tropical Storm Milton forms in Gulf; forecast to strengthen into hurricane headed toward Florida
Tropical Storm Milton has formed in the Gulf of Mexico and is forecast to strengthen into a hurricane headed toward Florida with possible impacts to its western coast, the National Hurricane Center said on Saturday. Maximum sustained winds are expected to be at 40 mph with higher gusts and Milton is currently moving north-northeast, NHC said in an advisory.
Milton is forecast to undergo a period of rapid intensification before it makes landfall as a Category 2 hurricane across Florida’s west coast, CBS News Miami reported.
The forecast comes a little more than a week after Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida and across the Southeast, killing more than 200 people and causing immense destruction. President Biden on Thursday took an aerial tour of Florida’s Big Bend where Helene struck as a Category 4 storm. Hundreds of people are still missing and Mr. Biden said the work to rebuild will cost “billions of dollars” as communities suffer still without power, running water and passable roads.
NOAA
Milton is forecast to move across the southwestern Gulf of Mexico through Sunday night then across the south-central Gulf on Monday and Tuesday before reaching Florida’s west coast by the middle of the week, NHC said. Heavy rain is possible in the region starting Sunday into Monday, CBS Miami reported, and more rain and heavy winds will most likely arrive on Wednesday. Hurricane and storm surge watches will most likely be required for portions of Florida starting Sunday, the National Hurricane Center said.
Along with the heavy rainfall, the hurricane center said to expect risks of flooding.
Residents in the area should ensure they have a hurricane plan in place, the National Hurricane Center said, follow the advice of local officials and check back for forecast updates.
