On Thursday, Democrats joined Republican leaders in advancing legislation to provide security funding for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, moving the bills closer to passage over the weekend. The House Rules Committee reconvened after a nine-hour recess and voted to move GOP House Speaker Mike Johnson’s foreign aid bills with the help of Democrats on the committee. The bills include $26.4 billion for Israel, $60.8 billion for Ukraine, and $8.1 billion for the Indo-Pacific region to counter China, with additional funds for Taiwan. A separate bill addresses other GOP foreign policy priorities, such as sanctions on Russia, China, and Iran.
President Biden has expressed support for the package and urged the House to pass it quickly, as both chambers are scheduled to be in recess the following week. Johnson faced pressure from members of both parties to hold a vote on the bipartisan Senate package that has been stalled in the House for months. The decision to provide additional funding for Ukraine has caused division among House Republicans, with some threatening to oust Johnson from the speakership. Johnson defended his decision, citing the importance of providing Ukraine with lethal aid during a critical time on the world stage.
The House is expected to vote on final passage of the foreign aid package over the weekend, which includes support for U.S. allies and measures to address various foreign policy priorities. The legislation also includes provisions to address humanitarian needs and other concerns related to Russia, China, and Iran. Johnson’s announcement of the proposal on Monday marked a significant step towards resolving the impasse over the stalled foreign aid funding in the House. The package includes a $95 billion supplemental funding package that passed the Senate in February.
The passage of the foreign aid package represents a bipartisan effort to provide critical support to allies and address key foreign policy priorities. Democrats and Republicans worked together to advance the legislation, with Democrats on the House Rules Committee playing a key role in moving the bills forward. President Biden’s support for the package and calls for swift action underscore the urgency of addressing the security needs of Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan, and other countries in the region. The House’s consideration of the bills underlines the importance of bipartisan cooperation in advancing key national security priorities.
