The House on Saturday was set to pass a $95 billion foreign aid package for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, with the expectation of separate votes on aid for each country. Speaker Mike Johnson took a significant risk by advancing the legislation in defiance of hard-liners from his own party, structuring the measures to capture different coalitions of support without allowing opposition to any one element to sink the whole deal. The aid bills for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan are expected to pass overwhelmingly, with the Senate likely to take it up quickly and send it to President Biden for approval.
The legislation includes $60 billion for Ukraine, $26 billion for Israel and humanitarian aid for conflict zones including Gaza, and $8 billion for the Indo-Pacific region. It would also direct the president to seek repayment from the Ukrainian government of $10 billion, with the possibility of loan forgiveness starting in 2026. The scene on the House floor reflects broad bipartisan support for aiding Ukraine in its conflict with Russia, with Mr. Johnson defying the anti-interventionist wing of his party to push the measure through with Democratic support.
For months, it was unclear if Congress would approve additional funding for Ukraine, with Republicans initially opposing it unless stringent anti-immigration measures were included. After the Senate passed its own aid legislation, Mr. Johnson vowed to ensure aid was sent to Ukraine despite threats from within his party. His decision was met with opposition from ultraconservative Republicans, including calls for his removal as speaker, citing concerns that the aid package did not prioritize border security measures.
The Republican opposition to the legislation forced Mr. Johnson to rely on Democratic votes to bring it to the floor, with Democrats criticizing Republicans for failing to act urgently on the aid package. The legislation also includes provisions to sell off frozen Russian assets to fund the Ukrainian war effort, impose sanctions on Iranian and Russian officials, and limit the export of U.S. technology used to make Iranian drones. Lawmakers are expected to vote on various amendments, including proposals to zero out or limit funding for Ukraine, which are likely to fail.
The legislation represents a significant bipartisan effort to support Ukraine in its conflict with Russia, with a focus on aiding civilians in conflict zones, providing military support, and imposing sanctions on Iran and Russia. Mr. Johnson’s decision to advance the aid package despite opposition from his party demonstrates his commitment to prioritizing foreign aid over domestic policy concessions, drawing support from Democrats to push the measure through. The bill is expected to be swiftly passed by the Senate and signed into law by President Biden, marking the end of a contentious legislative path to enactment.
