4 weeks ago
Johnson unveils Ukraine, Israel assistance bills
Democrats took an different measurement Thursday and helped Republican leaders beforehand authorities to supply billions successful stalled information backing for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, steering nan measures person toward transition this weekend.
After astir 9 hours of recess, nan House Rules Committee reconvened precocious Thursday nighttime and moved GOP House Speaker Mike Johnson's overseas assistance bills connected a 9-3 vote, acknowledgment to nan votes of each 4 Democrats who beryllium connected nan committee: Ranking Member Jim McGovern of Massachusetts, Pennsylvania Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon, Colorado Rep. Joe Neguse and New Mexico Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández.
The blimpish Republican hardliners connected nan committee — Reps. Tom Massie of Kentucky, Ralph Norman of South Carolina and Chip Roy of Texas — each voted against nan rule, because separator information was not being paired pinch overseas aid. However, nan speaker is putting what he said is an "aggressive" separator measure to a ballot Friday morning. It grounded to walk retired of nan Rules Committee, but nan House will see it nether a suspension of nan rule, which intends it will require two-thirds support to pass.
The House is expected to ballot connected last transition of nan overseas assistance package this weekend.
The 3 overseas assistance bills would supply $26.4 cardinal to support Israel, $60.8 cardinal to bolster Ukraine and $8.1 cardinal to antagonistic China successful nan Indo-Pacific, including billions for Taiwan. The Israel measure besides includes much than $9.1 cardinal to reside humanitarian needs, which Democrats said was basal for their support.
A 4th measure is geared toward addressing different GOP overseas argumentation priorities. In particular, it would let nan waste of stiff assets of Russian oligarchs and perchance unit nan waste of TikTok and authorize stricter sanctions connected Russia, China and Iran.
President Biden said he would motion nan package into rule and has called connected nan House to walk it this week and nan Senate to quickly follow. Both chambers are scheduled to beryllium successful recess adjacent week.
Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, announced nan proposal connected Monday amid mounting unit from members successful some parties to clasp a ballot connected a bipartisan Senate package that includes support for nan U.S. allies. The $95 cardinal supplemental backing package that passed nan Senate successful February has stagnated for months successful nan House arsenic Johnson has debated a way forward.
Foreign assistance has sown heavy divisions among House Republicans — immoderate connected nan acold correct person threatened to oust Johnson from nan speakership complete further backing to Ukraine, which they oppose.
Johnson defended his determination Wednesday and said providing Ukraine pinch lethal assistance was "critically important."
"If I operated retired of fearfulness complete a mobility to vacate, I would ne'er beryllium capable to do my job," Johnson told reporters.
"Look, history judges america for what we do," he said, adding, "This is simply a captious clip correct now captious clip connected nan world stage. I could make a you cognize I tin make a selfish determination and do thing that that's different. But I'm doing present what I judge to beryllium nan correct thing."
GOP Rep. Lauren Boebert of Colorado predicted "this could beryllium nan opening of nan extremity for nan speaker."
Ellis Kim, Nikole Killion, Laura Garrison and Kristin Brown contributed reporting.
- In:
- Mike Johnson
- Marjorie Taylor Greene
- Israel
- Ukraine
