A bipartisan national security and border package did not clear a key procedural hurdle in the Senate Wednesday, paving the way for lawmakers to consider the national security provisions on their own.
The Senate did not invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to the bill, which would provide $118.3 billion in aid for Ukraine, Israel and Indo-Pacific allies alongside a slew of immigration policy changes. The vote was 49-50, falling short of the required 60-vote threshold.
The Senate plans to move forward later on Wednesday with an $95.3 billion amended version of the package that omits the border security agreement struck by a team of bipartisan negotiators after months of talks. Democratic leaders hope the national security-only version will earn enough Republican support to pass.
