US spending bill: what's in the $1.5tn bipartisan package?

Congress gives final approval to $13.6bn in aid to Ukraine

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer speaks during a news briefing at the US Capitol. AFP

The US Senate on Thursday night gave final approval to Ukrainian aid and a spending package that will fund the federal government through September.

Despite partisan fighting over inflation and pandemic relief, they rallied behind sending aid to Ukraine as the country continues to ward off unprovoked Russian aggression.

The $1.5 trillion bill received bipartisan approval in the upper chamber after the House of Representatives easily passed it on Wednesday.

“The bipartisan funding bill proves once more that members of both parties can come together to deliver results for the American people,” White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said.

Here is a look at the $1.5tn package heading to President Joe Biden's desk.

Aid to Ukraine

Congress approved $13.6 billion in aid to Ukraine, which has stubbornly resisted the Russian invasion since the war began.

This satellite image provided by Maxar Technologies shows destroyed and burning warehouse buildings in Stoyanka, Ukraine, in the western Kyiv region, during the Russian invasion. AP

Children shelter in a metro station in Kharkiv. Moscow said on March 10, 2022, that it will open daily humanitarian corridors to allow civilians fleeing fighting in Ukraine to reach Russian territory, despite Kyiv insisting that no evacuation routes should lead to Russia. AFP

Russian President Vladimir Putin during a videoconference meeting with government members at the Kremlin in Moscow. The meeting focuses on minimising the effects of sanctions on the Russian economy. Russian troops entered Ukraine on February 24, prompting the country's president to declare martial law and triggering a series of severe economic sanctions imposed by western countries. EPA

Rescuers work among remains of buildings damaged by an air strike in Dnipro, Ukraine, as Russia's attack on the country continues. Reuters

Members of the National Guard of Ukraine, Oleksandr and Olena, listen to a priest at their wedding in Ukraine. Reuters

People fleeing Russia's invasion of Ukraine warm up by a fire near the train station in Lviv, Ukraine. Reuters

Russian forces rolled their armoured vehicles up to the northeastern edge of Kyiv, edging closer in their attempts to encircle the Ukrainian capital. AFP

A woman covers herself with a blanket near a damaged fire truck after shelling in Mariupol, Ukraine. AP Photo

A Ukrainian soldier hides from a helicopter air strike near Demydiv, Ukraine. Reuters

Ukrainian soldiers walk past a monument of the city founder Duke de Richelieu, covered with sand bags for protection, in Odessa, Ukraine. Reuters

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, left, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, centre, and Ukranian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba. EPA

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in talks with Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba during a tripartite meeting chaired by Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, in Antalya, Turkey. AP

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova speaks to the media as the foreign ministers of Ukraine, Russia and Turkey hold talks in Antalya, 15 days after Russia launched a military invasion on Ukraine. AFP

A Ukrainian serviceman says goodbye to his girlfriend before departing in the direction of Kyiv at the central train station in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv. AFP

Valerii Sushkevych, president of the Ukraine National Paralympic Committee, and the Ukraine delegation raise their fists and pose with a banner at the Beijing 2022 Winter Paralympic Games. Reuters

A member of the Ukrainian team cries during a moment of silence at the Zhangjiakou athletes village during the Beijing 2022 Winter Paralympic Games. AFP

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, right, and Ukraine Foreign Minister Dmytro Kubela, second left, in Antalya, Turkey. AFP

A man is supported after crossing the Irpin river while fleeing the town of Irpin, Ukraine. AP

People are helped out of a damaged children's hospital following a Russian air strike in the southeastern city of Mariupol, Ukraine. AFP

A man rides a bicycle in front of an apartment building that was damaged by shelling in Mariupol. AP

A woman carries two babies after arriving at a triage point in Kyiv, Ukraine. AP

A man hugs an elderly woman after crossing a damaged bridge as they flee from the frontline town of Irpin, near the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv. EPA

Local residents cook at a makeshift camp next to a checkpoint in Kyiv. EPA

Ukrainian men chop wood at a makeshift camp next to a checkpoint in Kyiv. EPA

A member of the Territorial Defence Forces learns how to use a Javelin missile during a training session in Kyiv. EPA

Members of the Territorial Defence Forces learn how to give first aid during the training session. EPA

A woman rescued from the outskirts of Kyiv holds a plate of food after arriving at a triage point in the Ukrainian capital. AP

A woman cries after arriving at the triage point in Kyiv. AP

Civilian vehicles drive past a destroyed Russian tank as they leave Irpin. AP

Ukrainian servicemen stand in a foxhole in Irpin. AP

People gather on a platform to board a train leaving Odesa after the US said Russian troops are making preparations to attack the city. AFP

A Ukrainian woman looks for food in a bin in Odesa's city centre. AFP

Ukrainian servicemen look towards Russian positions outside the city of Brovary, east of Kyiv. AFP

A man walks past a shelled house at the village of Velyka Dymerka, east of Kyiv. AFP

A Ukrainian serviceman stands at a check point in the vilage of Velyka Dymerka east of Kyiv. AFP

A Ukrainian woman plays with her child in a temporary refugee shelter in Przemysl, Poland. Reuters

A woman waits outside a maternity and children's hospital damaged by shelling in Mariupol, Ukraine. AP

A pregnant woman leaves the hospital after she was wounded when it was bombed. AP

A woman waits outside the damaged hospital in Mariupol. AP

A man wounded by shelling in Mariupol. AP

A car burns after the destruction of the children's hospital in Mariupol. Reuters

A mortuary worker wheels a stretcher used to move dead bodies before they are buried on the outskirts of Mariupol. AP

The money will help provide weapons and other equipment to Kyiv, as well as funds to provide humanitarian assistance to citizens.

By comparison, Russia, whose forces have been bombarding Ukraine for two weeks, had a military budget of $62 million in 2020, the World Bank reported.

“The Ukrainian people are fighting for their lives and fighting for the survival of their young democracy,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said.

“Congress has a moral obligation to stand behind them as they resist the evils of Vladimir Putin and his campaign of carnage.”

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Wednesday indicated that the $13.6bn in Ukrainian aid is just the beginning, though a timetable on more funding is unclear.

Defence funding

The US boosted its defence funding for 2022, providing $728.5bn in discretionary funding, up from $32.5bn the previous year.

In addition to the Ukrainian aid, the bill will provide assistance to Nato allies in an effort to deter Russian aggression.

The $728.5bn will also go towards investment in research in development, address gender-based violence in the military and confront the climate crisis by providing $120m for climate infrastructure programmes, a summary of the bill showed.

Election security

The bipartisan package, which Mr Biden is expected to sign on Friday, will provide $75m to help states buttress the security and integrity of federal elections.

The Election Assistance Commission will also receive $20m for operating expenses.

A push for voting rights has been at the top of the Democrats' agenda since the party took control of both chambers of Congress in 2020.

Cybersecurity

Funding for the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency comes in at $568.7m ($2.6bn total).

The funding will go towards preventing cyber attacks, protecting communications systems and mitigating cyber intrusions.

Plans for Covid-19 relief scrapped

Democrats in the House scrapped a plan to include $15.6bn for the US Covid-19 response at the last minute on Wednesday night.

Republicans opposed funds going towards Covid relief, arguing that the money already allocated from the American Rescue Plan should be fully accounted for before providing more relief.

Rank-and-file Democrats rebelled against how those funds would be offset.

The $15.6bn Democrats wanted would have helped the US to obtain vaccines in preparation for future variants.

Democrats hope to revisit Covid aid next week, though they are likely to face Republican resistance.

The Associated Press contributed to this report