Speaker Mike Johnson is pushing for a foreign aid package to be voted on by the House on Saturday, despite opposition from some Republicans. The package includes aid for Israel, Ukraine, Taiwan, and other American allies, broken into three separate pieces for individual voting. There would also be a separate vote on policies popular among Republicans, including conditioning aid to Ukraine as a loan, a potential TikTok ban, and sanctions on Iran. The legislation includes $60 billion for Kyiv, $26 billion for Israel, humanitarian aid for civilians in conflict zones, and $8 billion for the Indo-Pacific.
President Biden has endorsed the aid plan, urging its swift passage to support Israel and Ukraine, provide humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza, and enhance security in the Indo-Pacific. The plan is structured to attract support from Democrats and mainstream Republicans, requiring the pieces to pass individually and then be combined into a single bill for the Senate. Mr. Johnson faces opposition from members of his own party who object to funding for Ukraine and left-wing Democrats who do not support unrestricted aid for Israel. Success for the aid package will necessitate careful maneuvering by Mr. Johnson to secure enough votes.
Mr. Johnson has encountered resistance since announcing the aid package, including efforts to remove him as speaker. Some Republicans are lobbying for more partisan proposals, such as abandoning Ukraine aid altogether. Mr. Johnson must also ensure that enough lawmakers are present for the vote on Saturday, with some attempting to block him from bringing a border security bill to the floor in protest. Despite these challenges, the aid package is designed to combine Democratic and Republican support to pass the House and then move to the Senate as a single bill.
If all four pieces of the legislation pass the House, they will be taken up by the Senate for a final decision. Democrats are expected to provide necessary votes to ensure the aid package’s passage, breaking from the usual custom. The aid package has been carefully crafted to align with bipartisan interests and address national security concerns for U.S. allies. However, challenges remain to secure enough support to advance the aid plan, as some Republicans are opposed to the legislation.
Conservatives and hard-liners within the Republican Party have expressed opposition to the aid package, particularly concerning funding for Ukraine and border security issues. Efforts to block the package from coming to the floor have been met with resistance from Mr. Johnson and supporters of the bill. The aid package’s success will hinge on Mr. Johnson’s ability to navigate internal party tensions and gather enough votes for the legislation to move forward. Despite these obstacles, the aid package has received support from President Biden and aims to provide critical assistance to key allies of the United States.
