Defense hawks in the House of Representatives are seeking a way to pass foreign aid through Congress after Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) made it clear he would not act on the Senate’s efforts.
House Republican leaders have criticized the Senate for passing a multibillion-dollar foreign aid package, but many in both Republicans and Democrats are hoping for some aid to U.S. allies overseas. The same goes for the top Democratic Party. They have joined the campaign to corner Mr. Johnson, publicly pressuring him to bring his Senate policy proposals to the floor anyway.
Nearly all House Republicans Fox News Digital spoke to said they had not heard from the other side and were interested in seeing the aid pass, while others are working on an entirely new plan. There are some members of Congress.
Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pennsylvania), co-chair of the Bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus, told reporters Wednesday that a small group of Republican lawmakers have been working together on support including support for Ukraine, Israel and the Indo-Pacific region. He said he is working on a plan. As an element of border security.
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House Republican defense hawks Brian Fitzpatrick, Jen Quiggans and Don Bacon have all expressed concerns about the future of foreign aid in the House. (Getty Images)
“It’s not bipartisan yet. We’re working on it,” Fitzpatrick said. “I care about Ukraine. I used to live there. This was my last assignment as an FBI agent. We are not going to abandon Ukraine.”
Fitzpatrick said the plan would be “very similar but different” to the Senate’s plan, and that the text of the bill would be available “within the next few days.”
The Senate approved a $95 billion foreign aid package aimed at Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan, and Gaza early Tuesday after an all-night marathon session in which conservatives, mostly opposed to sending aid to Ukraine, tried to delay the aid. Passed an aid package.
Senate passes controversial foreign aid bill that sends billions of dollars to Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan
It came together quickly after an earlier version of the $118 billion aid package, which also included border and immigration reform, collapsed despite months of careful bipartisan negotiations.
In both cases, Prime Minister Boris Johnson vetoed the bills and said he would not vote on them in their current form.
House Speaker Mike Johnson rejected both Senate efforts to pass foreign aid. (Kent Nishimura/Getty Images)
Meanwhile, the Democratic minority in the House of Representatives has publicly threatened to file an immunity petition behind Prime Minister Johnson. This is a move that would allow the Senate to force a vote on the aid package if a majority of the House approves.
But even moderate House Republicans poured cold water on the idea.
Rep. Don Bacon (R-Nebraska) said “one or two” Democrats have approached him about signing the discharge petition, but he is not interested at this time.
Other defense-minded Republicans said they had not heard from Democrats at all.
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Rep. Carlos Gimenez (R-Fla.) said he was “not going to go against that kind of leadership,” but called for aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan to be passed as separate bills.
Rep. Jen Quiggans (R-Va.), a Navy veteran, did not say to FOX News Digital whether she would sign the discharge petition or if offered, but she would not say whether she would sign the discharge petition or if offered, but she would not say whether she would sign the discharge petition or not regarding the foreign aid program. He also suggested he was getting few answers from his own leadership.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer delivered the $95 billion aid bill to the floor early Tuesday. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
“I read and watch everything that helps me make decisions, but no one talks to me,” Quiggans said. “I’ve actually asked several times, when are we going to vote on the foreign aid package? Because, you know, there’s a part where we have to support our troops overseas…we We have to make sure we support them. We’re here for our allies, we’re here for our military, because this world is a scary place.”
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Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-Wash.) said it was “premature” to discuss the discharge petition, but similarly acknowledged the need for action.
“I think we need to step up and support our allies around the world, and I think we can figure out a way to do that without relying on discharge petitions,” he told Fox News Digital.
