The Senate on Tuesday passed a long-awaited $95 billion aid package that will deliver foreign assistance to Ukraine, Israel and Indo-Pacific allies, including Taiwan, in a widely bipartisan 79-18 vote, sending it to President Joe Biden's desk and finally ending months of tension.

"Finally — finally, finally — tonight, after more than six months of hard work, and many twists and turns in the road, America sends a message to the entire world: We will not turn our back on you," Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said immediately before the final passage of the bill. "Tonight we tell our allies: We stand with you. We tell our adversaries: Don't mess with us. We tell the world: The United States will do everything to safeguard democracy and our way of life." 

In a statement before the final vote, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., admonished his colleagues who opposed the bill, impressing the necessity of American leadership on the world stage.

"None of us is absolved of our duty to see the world as it actually is. None of us is excused from our obligation to equip the United States to face down those who wishes harm. I've said it before history settles every account. And I welcome the eyes of posterity on what the Senate does tonight," McConnell said. 

The aid package is now headed to Biden’s desk — he has vowed to quickly sign the bill into law as soon as it clears the Senate.

"Tonight, a bipartisan majority in the Senate joined the House to answer history’s call at this critical inflection point," Biden said in a statement after the vote. "Congress has passed my legislation to strengthen our national security and send a message to the world about the power of American leadership: we stand resolutely for democracy and freedom, and against tyranny and oppression."

"I will sign this bill into law and address the American people as soon as it reaches my desk tomorrow so we can begin sending weapons and equipment to Ukraine this week," he continued. "The need is urgent: for Ukraine, facing unrelenting bombardment from Russia; for Israel, which just faced unprecedented attacks from Iran; for refugees and those impacted by conflicts and natural disasters around the world, including in Gaza, Sudan, and Haiti; and for our partners seeking security and stability in the Indo-Pacific."

"This critical legislation will make our nation and world more secure as we support our friends who are defending themselves against terrorists like Hamas and tyrants like Putin," he concluded after thanking the lawmakers who made the bill's passage possible.

The House of Representatives over the weekend passed the package of four bills — including one that could impose a ban on popular social media app TikTok — in widely bipartisan fashion after months of inaction in the lower chamber, despite infighting within the narrow Republican majority that could cost House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., his job.

The measure would give $61 billion in aid for Ukraine as it repels Russia’s invasion, $26 billion for Israel in its fight against Hamas in Gaza, $8 billion for Indo-Pacific allies to counter China’s growing influence in the region, as well as force a ban on TikTok unless its China-based parent company divests itself from the app; it also includes sanctions on Russia, China and Iran and a provision that will allow for the seizure of Russian assets to benefit Ukraine’s rebuilding in the aftermath of Moscow’s invasion.

Of the $61 billion for Ukraine, a significant portion will go toward replenishing dwindling U.S. weapons stockpiles, while giving Kyiv nearly $14 billion for the purchase of weapons, as well as $9 billion in “forgivable loans” for economic assistance.

According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, after speaking with President Joe Biden on Monday, the package will boost the country’s “air defense … long-range and artillery capabilities.”

"This vote reinforces America’s role as a beacon of democracy and the leader of the free world. I am also grateful to all Americans who continue to support Ukraine and recognize that the historical significance of this bill extends beyond politics," Zelenskyy said on social media Tuesday night. "I equally appreciate President Biden's support and look forward to the bill being signed soon and the next military aid package matching the resoluteness that I always see in our negotiations. Ukraine's long-range capabilities, artillery, and air defense are critical tools for restoring just peace sooner.

More than $9 billion of the Israel funding will go toward humanitarian assistance in Gaza.

It's the rest of the funding toward Israel that gave progressive members of Congress consternation.

"This bill includes billions of dollars for Israel to procure offensive military aid. Sending Prime Minister Netanyahu’s government the munitions to destroy Gaza is wrong and inconsistent with our foreign policy goals," said Sen. Peter Welch, D-Vt., who voted against the aid package. "We need to stop financing a war strategy that was deeply flawed from the beginning. Instead of prolonging this catastrophe, I believe we should pursue a consistent policy for the Middle East. A policy grounded in the recognition that the people of Israel will never be secure without upholding the inherent rights and dignity of the Palestinian people. "

Welch was joined in his vote by Sen. Bernie Sanders, his independent counterpart in Vermont, who called today a "dark day" in the Senate.

"I voted no tonight on the foreign aid package for one simple reason: U.S. taxpayers should not be providing billions more to the extremist Netanyahu government to continue its devastating war against the Palestinian people," Sanders wrote. "The housing in Gaza is destroyed; the infrastrucutre in Gaza is destroyed; the health care system in Gaza is destroyed; the educational system in Gaza is destroyed. Enough is enough. No more money for Netanyahu's war machine."

They were joined in their opposition by Sen. Jeff Merkey, D-Oregon, and 15 Republicans, including Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., who called the bill package "legislative blackmail," furious that the bill did not address immigration issues along the border.

"I am left with this choice. If I want to help Israel, If I want to help Taiwan, If I want to ban ByteDance from operating TikTok in the U.S., then I have to drop my demand that the president enforce our immigration laws," Rubio said earlier Tuesday. "This is moral extortion."

In a press conference following the vote, Schumer continued to express his pride in passing the aid package, praising the bipartisan work he and McConnell were able to foster.

"As I've said, this is an inflection point in history. Western democracy faces perhaps the greatest test since the end of the Cold War, and this supplemental is essential to meeting the challenges," Schumer said. "I'm glad that when it mattered most. Finally, finally, finally, both parties came together to do the right thing for our nation's security." He gave special thanks to McConnell as well, for pushing through negative comments from Republicans within the party and within his caucus. "He knew the right thing to do and stuck with it."

McConnell added that he returned a call from Zelenskyy, choosing to leave him a message: "OK, we got it done. Now go win the fight."