Speaker Mike Johnson announced that the House would vote on a foreign aid package for Israel and Ukraine on Saturday evening, despite opposition from within his own party. The package includes aid for Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan, and other allies, as well as humanitarian aid for civilians in conflict zones. The legislation also includes measures popular among Republicans, such as conditioning aid to Ukraine as a loan and potentially banning TikTok nationwide. President Biden endorsed the plan and urged swift passage to show support for U.S. allies.
The legislative package is designed to secure enough support from Democrats and mainstream Republicans to pass, despite opposition from hard-right conservatives and left-wing Democrats. The aim is to pass all four components of the package in the House, which would then be combined into a single bill for Senate consideration. Mr. Johnson faces challenges in managing the schedules of lawmakers and ensuring enough participation in the votes on Saturday. He may need to rely on Democratic votes to move the legislation forward, which goes against customary party lines for such national security spending decisions.
Support for the aid package is contentious within the Republican Party, with some members vehemently against sending more aid to Ukraine. Conservative lawmakers have attempted to sway Mr. Johnson to abandon the plan in favor of more partisan proposals, such as eliminating aid for Ukraine entirely. Some Republicans have threatened to vote against allowing the package to come to the floor, with Representative Bob Good of Virginia calling on conservative lawmakers to oppose the legislation due to its lack of focus on border security. Despite these challenges, Mr. Johnson is pushing ahead with the aid package in an effort to show U.S. support for its allies.
Mr. Johnson’s decision to advance the aid package has put his position as speaker at risk, as he defies the right flank of his party. There has been criticism from some Republicans who are demanding more concessions from Democrats on immigration policy before agreeing to support aid for Ukraine. To address these concerns, Mr. Johnson also announced a separate vote on a border security bill, which includes components from previous Republican legislation aiming to crack down on unlawful immigration and reinstate Trump-era border restrictions. His efforts to balance the preferences of various factions within the Republican Party will be crucial to the success of the aid package in the House.
The aid package includes significant funding for Ukraine, Israel, and humanitarian aid for conflict zones, as well as measures to bolster security and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. President Biden has endorsed the plan, emphasizing the importance of standing with U.S. allies and countering the influence of Iran and Russia. The multipart structure of the package aims to navigate the complex political landscape in Congress and secure enough support from both parties to advance the legislation. Mr. Johnson will need to navigate difficult negotiations and potential opposition to ensure the passage of the aid package and demonstrate U.S. commitment to its allies in a challenging global environment.
