The House successfully overcame a significant obstacle on Friday as it advanced foreign aid to Israel, Ukraine, and Taiwan. Despite facing numerous Republican defections, Speaker Mike Johnson received support from Democrats, allowing him to prevent a potentially damaging defeat.
Shortly after, another Republican announced their intention to join the effort to remove him from his position.
In a landslide decision, the chamber overwhelmingly voted 316-94 to move forward with the bills, paving the way for Saturday’s crucial votes on the final passage of $95 billion in foreign assistance. This much-needed aid has been embroiled in a lengthy political battle in Washington, causing significant delays in its delivery.
Friday’s procedural votes, which are usually approved by the House majority alone, received assistance from Democrats to ensure the progress of the legislation. Despite the collective opposition from Republican hard-liners, it was the Democrats who contributed more votes to advance the bills compared to their Republican counterparts.
“During the debate preceding the vote, Rep. Jim McGovern, a Democrat from Massachusetts, expressed his belief that Democrats will once again take on the role of the responsible adults in the room.”
After the vote, Johnson expressed his satisfaction with the four foreign aid bills, stating that they are the best possible outcome given the circumstances. He also mentioned that he is looking forward to the final passage of the bill tomorrow.
The proposed bills allocate approximately $26 billion for Israel, $61 billion for Ukraine, and $8 billion for the Indo-Pacific region. These measures resemble the legislation that was previously passed by a bipartisan group in the Senate in February, which consolidated all aid into a single bill.
The foreign aid bill includes a fourth bill that encompasses several conservative priorities. These priorities consist of a bill to ban TikTok, impose sanctions on Iran, and implement legislation to seize Russian assets, thereby generating funds for Ukraine.
“During the debate, Representative Tom Cole, a Republican from Oklahoma, emphasized the crucial role of Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan in safeguarding democracy globally. He highlighted the fact that Ukraine and Israel are facing imminent threats and are directly at the forefront of this struggle.”
Lawmakers faced mounting pressure to pass aid legislation following the unprecedented attacks by Iran on Israel over the weekend.
Despite facing opposition from within his own party and potential risks to his position, Johnson remains committed to implementing the foreign aid measures, which he considers crucial.
Rep. Paul Gosar of Arizona, a third House Republican, has announced his support for the motion to vacate the speaker’s chair, which was initially introduced by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene last month. Expressing his frustration, Gosar emphasized the need to prioritize resources for the southern border instead of moving forward with aid to Ukraine.
“We require a Speaker who prioritizes the interests of America instead of yielding to the reckless demands of warmongers, neo-cons, and the military industrial complex, all of whom profit immensely from an expensive and seemingly never-ending war taking place thousands of miles away,” expressed Gosar.
If three Republicans support a motion to vacate, Johnson could be removed from his position. However, the outcome may depend on whether Democrats choose to defend the Republican speaker.
As Johnson made his way to the House floor for the vote, Selina Wang, ABC News Senior White House Correspondent, approached him with a question. She asked if he had any concerns about the possibility of being ousted.
“I don’t stress,” Johnson replied confidently. “I simply focus on fulfilling my responsibilities.”
During the debate, Republican hard-liners expressed their frustrations with Johnson and his approach to this issue.
“I’m worried that instead of focusing on securing the border, the speaker has made a deal with the Democrats to allocate funds for foreign wars,” expressed Rep. Thomas Massie.
Earlier this week, Massie, R-Ky., urged Johnson to step down and supported Greene’s motion to vacate.
Rep. Chip Roy, a Republican from Texas, expressed his dissatisfaction with the allocation of “another $100 million to fund war, unpaid for, with zero border security.” Roy criticized the process, stating that it is designed to achieve a specific outcome without considering border security.
Roy stated that the whole situation had been prearranged, which is why both President Biden and Chuck Schumer are commending it.
Democrats, on the other hand, voiced their disapproval of Republicans for introducing a sense of disorder into the chamber.
“I would urge my colleagues to consider the outcome of embracing MAGA extremism: nothing. Absolutely nothing,” Representative McGovern emphasized. He further emphasized, “You don’t receive accolades for simply doing your job.”
“We find ourselves in a situation of a divided government where nobody will be able to achieve all of their desired outcomes,” he emphasized. “I am hopeful that today’s vote will help to weaken the influence of MAGA extremism within our legislative body, particularly in terms of providing support for our allies.”
Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez, a Democratic member of the House Rules Committee, expressed her frustration over the delayed passage of aid, questioning why it took Congress so long to take action.
The White House released a statement of administration policy ahead of the vote, expressing support for the bills. They described the bills as “long overdue” and emphasized that they would send a strong message about the strength of American leadership during this critical time.
