House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) unveiled his plan to pass the foreign aid bill Monday in a closed session with Republican lawmakers.
Republican leaders are under pressure to take action on funding to Israel and Ukraine as the situation in the conflict between them becomes more dire, while a standoff in the House Republican conference over the terms of foreign aid continues. I also needed to get over it.
Under Johnson’s preliminary plan, aid to Ukraine, Taiwan and Israel would all be considered in separate bills, according to two MPs who attended the meeting. The fourth bill is similar to the recently passed House bill that could pave the way for a ban on TikTok, as well as the REPO Act, a bipartisan measure to liquefy seized Russian assets and transfer the funds to Ukraine. It combines a variety of national security priorities, including:
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Prime Minister Boris Johnson indicated he expected to vote on the bill by Friday.
Johnson to propose Israel-Ukraine aid plan to domestic Republican Party in private meeting
Speaker Mike Johnson announced the foreign aid plan in a closed House Republican meeting. (AP/J. Scott Applewhite/File)
“We will not vote on the Senate supplementary bill in its current form, but we will vote on each of these measures in four different categories. We will vote on support for Israel, support for Ukraine, support for Ukraine.” Other measures include Indo-Pacific and national security priorities. [it] “That includes the loan-lease option, the REPO Act, and some of the things we’ve been discussing here for quite some time regarding sanctions and other measures against Iran,” he said.
Mr Johnson added that the draft bill, which is expected to be finalized early on Tuesday, would allow member states to submit amendments.
He then predicted the funding level would be “about the same” as the Senate’s $95 billion bipartisan aid package, which also includes money for humanitarian causes in Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan, Gaza and other countries. Said to be included.
Republicans press Biden Justice Department to investigate ‘Death to America’ activists
Dismantling the Senate supplemental package was an idea supported by a significant portion of House Republicans. But it also appears to be a move aimed at placating fiscal hawks on Johnson’s right who would otherwise have tried to block the bill from passing the floor.
Two Republican senators who detailed the plan to FOX News Digital said there was more support for the plan than opposition in the room.
Anti-missile systems were activated after Iran launched a drone and missile towards Israel, seen from Ashkelon, Israel on April 14, 2024. (Reuters/Amir Cohen)
“I think this is a good plan. I don’t know if I support every bill, but this is the way the House should work,” Rep. Nancy Mace, R.S.C., told Fox News Digital after the vote. Told. meeting.
Mr Mace added that several MPs, including himself, had asked Mr Johnson to include some border security measures, which appear not to be included in the latest proposals.
Meanwhile, Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.) did not say whether he supported the bill, but told reporters, “Whenever you break these down into single-subject bills, it’s I think it’s a good strategy.”
But others, including members of the ultra-conservative House Freedom Caucus, signaled they remained skeptical.
The House will consider 17 Iran/Israel related bills this week
Freedom Caucus Chairman Bob Good (R-Va.) and Policy Chairman Chip Roy (R-Texas) said despite their demands that border security measures would ultimately become part of the deal. He suggested he was not optimistic.
“I think the border security part will come from the members,” Good told FOX News Digital.
Goode was also frustrated that the funding bill was not offset by other spending cuts, as was the case with Johnson’s original $14 billion standalone Israel aid bill, which passed the House of Commons in November.
Bob Good, chairman of the House Freedom Caucus, expressed skepticism about Johnson’s plan. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images/File)
“Some of us will absolutely make modifications to pay for this because we shouldn’t be in debt to do these things,” he said.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), who had threatened to oust Johnson over his handling of government spending and foreign aid, also scrapped her plan after the meeting.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
“I think that’s the wrong direction. Our border is the policy issue that voters across America care about most. And the Senate hasn’t taken up the border package that we sent. “They’re just policies,” Greene said, calling for a House vote to send more money to Ukraine, more money to Taiwan, and more money to Israel because our military is running out of ammunition. said.
“So, what do you want to know? If the people out there care about our military, they can do it with ammunition and supplies without funding foreign wars.” How about we introduce another bill to fund and rebuild our military?”
