Bipartisan House members moved a $95 billion foreign aid bill to counter Russian, Iranian and Chinese aggression late Thursday night out of committee, preparing for a contentious floor vote this weekend.
In an unusual 9-3 vote, minority Democrats joined majority Republicans on the House Rules Committee. On the passage of more military aid funds and humanitarian aid to war-torn countries ukraine and Israelsimilarly the fragile island of taiwan.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and other foreign officials have called on Western countries to support Kiev in its war against Russia, which entered its third year in February and continues the months-long war between the Jewish state and Hamas terrorists. In the midst of this, Iran launched direct airstrikes against Israel over the weekend. In Gaza.
Israel launched a planned retaliatory attack on Iran on Friday morning, ABC News reported, citing US officials.
Rules Reps. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, Chip Roy of Texas and Ralph Norman of South Carolina opposed U.S. aid funding and called House Speaker Mike Johnson “break his promise” to prioritize border security concerns.
“I’m a child of the ’80s. I consider myself a Reagan Republican. I understand the concept of keeping the peace through force,” Johnson (R-La.) said in an interview Wednesday. He told CNN’s Jake Tapper.
“We’re not going to get 100% of what we want at this point, because our majority is the smallest in history, and we only have a majority in one chamber,” he said, predicting a close vote in the House on Saturday night. ” he said.
The House speaker ignored a similar bill passed by the Senate in February because of its failure to address U.S. border security, but he urged Republicans to “cut the nitty-gritty” of the previously passed signature border package. He assured them that they would have the opportunity to vote on a bill that included “parts.” Year.
Far-right Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, who has threatened to oust Mr. Johnson over the foreign aid package, was a strong critic of Mr. Johnson and introduced a flurry of amendments to the bill in protest. Among them was one that would require U.S. lawmakers who passed funding for Ukraine to be drafted into the military. the country’s military itself.
Mr. Massey joined Mr. Greene (R-Ga.) in the motion he filed calling for Mr. Johnson to resign, calling on the House speaker to resign during a closed session Tuesday and later telling The Post and other reporters, “Resign.” “To avoid this,” he said. The situation is that he is kicked out of the chamber after foreign aid is passed.
“If you remember, the Hastert rule is that if a majority doesn’t support it, it doesn’t come to the floor,” Massie said, referring to former House Speaker Dennis Hastert.
“The Johnson Rule is that if 80% of Democrats don’t support it, we don’t put it on the floor. And that’s a problem,” he added.
“If Mike Johnson insists on getting to the finish line, Joe Biden and [Senate Majority Leader] “Chuck Schumer wants it,” Massey said of the House bill, which mirrors the Senate bill. “I think he’s already overextended his political capital.”
President Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) have spent more than two months pushing Johnson to pass a $95 billion aid package for Ukraine, Israel and the Indo-Pacific region. Mr. Biden has made this clear. He plans to support the House bill soon.
“This policy will provide much-needed humanitarian assistance to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and strengthen security and stability in the Indo-Pacific region, with critical support for Israel and Ukraine,” he said in a statement. I strongly support it.”
“The House of Representatives must pass this bill this week, and the Senate must follow suit immediately. I will sign this immediately and send a message to the world: We stand with our friends and support Iran and Russia. I will not allow you to succeed.”
The House recalibrated the Senate’s policies, increasing the amount of money earmarked for the U.S. stockpile of weapons and munitions, adding oversight conditions for aid to Ukraine, and doubling aid to Israel.
It also approved $1.6 billion in aid to Ukraine in the form of U.S. loans and loan guarantees proposed by former President Donald Trump.
A total of $60.84 billion has been set aside for Ukraine, $26.38 billion for Israel, and $8.12 billion for the Indo-Pacific, about half of which is earmarked for Taiwan.
“My philosophy is to do the right thing and let the chips fall where they may,” Johnson said. Said Reporters at the Capitol Wednesday afternoon. “If I had acted in fear of an eviction motion, I would never have been able to do my job.”
“History will judge us on what we do. This is a critical time,” he continued. “I think it’s very important to provide deadly aid to Ukraine right now.”
“I really believe in the information and the explanations that we have received. I believe that [Chinese President] Xi [Jinping]and [Russian President] Vladimir Putin and Iran are truly an axis of evil. I think they’re coordinating on this,” Johnson said. “If allowed, President Vladimir Putin will continue to march through Europe. I think he might go to the Balkans next. He might confront either Poland or a NATO ally. I think.”
“Frankly, I’d rather send bullets to Ukraine than to American boys,” he said of the high stakes of war with Russia.
The House is scheduled to take a procedural vote on the bill on Friday, which was introduced by members of the conservative Caucus Freedom Caucus. I swore to stop itThat means Democrats would have to vote yes in a narrow chamber.
Moderate Democrats like New York Congressman Tom Suozzi have already promised their support Expect it.
