In an unusual display of bipartisan support, the House of Representatives made significant progress on Friday in passing a foreign aid package totaling $95 billion. The package is intended to provide assistance to Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan, and humanitarian causes. This achievement was made possible by a strong coalition of lawmakers, who helped the package overcome a procedural obstacle and move closer to final votes. In a rare show of unity, Democrats joined forces with Republican Speaker Mike Johnson, ensuring overwhelming support for the plan with a 316-94 vote. If approved by the House this weekend, the package will then be sent to the Senate for further consideration.
After two months of deliberation, Johnson’s strategy finally paid off with a resounding victory this week. However, he still had to put in the work of rallying support for the wartime funding, especially for Ukraine’s crucial battle against Russia. Additionally, he had to secure his own position as speaker amidst growing efforts to remove him from office. This involved making the rounds on conservative media, leaving no stone unturned to salvage both the funding and his own political future.
In a recent interview with The Mark Levin Show, Johnson emphasized the urgent need for lethal aid to Ukraine. He expressed concern over the potential consequences of allowing Vladimir Putin to continue his invasion of another country. Johnson emphasized the gravity of the situation, emphasizing that it has far-reaching implications on a global scale.
According to Johnson, despite the imperfections, the recently passed legislation is the best outcome that Republicans could accomplish with their slim majority in one chamber of Congress.
After experiencing several months of delay, the House proceeded cautiously yet purposefully once Johnson made the decision this week to move forward with a package that closely aligns, with a few modifications, to what the Senate approved back in February. President Joe Biden promptly expressed his support for the speaker’s plan, and in an unusual turn of events, even Donald Trump, the Republican presidential nominee who generally opposes providing foreign aid to Ukraine, has not obstructed the speaker’s efforts.
“The Congress’s actions are being closely observed by the global community,” stated the White House. “Enacting this legislation would convey a strong message about the United States’ influential role during this critical juncture.”
Late Thursday, in an unprecedented move, the House Rules Committee members united and voted in near midnight. Four Democrats provided their support on a procedural step, overriding the resistance from the three hardline holdouts within the Republican majority. The package was then sent to the House floor for debate, with a vote of 9-3. This extraordinary moment had not been witnessed in the recent memory of the House.
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Ukraine and Israel aid makes rare progress in House vote with bipartisan support.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, in a conversation with reporters, asserts that the aid package has been formulated as a result of a government that is divided.
Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, a Democratic leader, confirmed that he had a conversation with Johnson on Thursday night to ensure the smooth passage of the bill through the Rules Committee.
After the vote, Jeffries emphasized the urgent need for us to stand in solidarity with our democratic allies.
“House Democrats have once again paved the path for crucial legislation that holds immense significance for the American people.”
On Saturday, Johnson will once again have to depend on Democrats to counter the amendments proposed by Republicans that could potentially undermine the package. A particular amendment from Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, known for her hardline stance, aims to completely eliminate spending for Ukraine.
Rep. Greene filed a motion to vacate the speaker from office, gaining support from Rep. Paul Gosar, an Arizona Republican, who co-sponsored the motion. Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, another co-sponsor, hinted that more members may join before the House recesses next week, increasing the pressure on Johnson to resign.
Representative Eli Crane, a staunch conservative from Arizona, expressed his openness to joining the effort to remove Johnson.
“I can definitely feel a shift in Republican leadership,” he said.
If Greene decides to bring it to a vote, she could potentially remove Johnson from the speaker’s office, similar to how Republicans ousted Kevin McCarthy from the position in the past year. While Jeffries, the Democratic leader, has not made any firm commitments to supporting Johnson’s retention of the speaker’s gavel, some Democrats have hinted at their willingness to employ procedural tactics to prevent the motion to vacate from succeeding.
With a slim majority in the House, Johnson cannot afford to lose more than a few votes from his fellow Republicans in order to pass any bill. This situation has forced him to seek support from Democrats in order to secure the necessary votes for the package’s passage.
Johnson faced a challenge in shaping the package as he had to consider the demands of ultra-conservatives while maintaining the support of the Democratic party. This meant that he had to make compromises and leave out certain tough security measures aimed at controlling migration at the U.S.-Mexico border.
Johnson has effectively divided a Senate-passed version of the bill into separate parts, which aligns with the preference of House Republicans. Consequently, the final votes will be taken on individual measures that specifically address Ukraine, Israel, and Indo-Pacific allies.
The package would also incorporate a fourth provision that encompasses several Republican priorities that Democrats support, or at the very least, are open to accepting. These priorities consist of measures that empower the U.S. to seize frozen Russian central bank assets to aid in the reconstruction of Ukraine, impose sanctions on Iran, Russia, China, and criminal organizations involved in fentanyl trafficking, and potentially prohibit the video app TikTok if its China-based owner fails to divest its stake within a year.
Rep. Gregory Meeks, the leading Democratic member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, emphasized the significance of the vote, showcasing the Democrats’ comprehensive understanding of global affairs and commitment to supporting our allies. Meeks highlighted the Democrats’ determination to provide the necessary aid and assistance to our allies, underscoring their genuine concern for humanitarian issues.
Republicans, including those who were supportive of the process, expressed deep disappointment that it had reached this point.
“I have concerns,” expressed Representative Ryan Zinke, a Republican from Montana, who voted in favor of the procedural step but was still dissatisfied with the process. “This situation is a reflection of the ongoing controversy in our country surrounding the question of how much aid should be provided.”
The Senate would receive a single package containing all the components, which would be automatically stitched back together. Hardliners in the Senate are also strategizing procedural moves to delay the final approval.
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