The Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson, has introduced a package of bills totaling $95.3 billion in spending that includes military aid to Ukraine and Israel, as well as humanitarian assistance to civilians in Gaza. The package is similar to the one passed by the Senate in February but includes some differences aimed at gaining support from House conservatives. The aid to Ukraine amounts to about $61 billion, with a significant portion dedicated to replenishing weapons and ammunition systems for the U.S. military.
One of the main differences between the House and Senate bills is the provision of more than $9 billion in economic assistance to Ukraine in the form of forgivable loans in the House bill. This provision allows the president to set the terms of the loan and cancel it, with Congress having the ability to override the cancellation. Johnson emphasized that the House package includes a requirement for the Biden administration to provide a plan and strategy for achieving objectives in Ukraine, within 45 days of the bill being signed into law, which has been a point of concern for House Republicans.
The legislation also includes aid for Israel and humanitarian relief for Gaza, totaling more than $26 billion. This includes funding for replenishing Israel’s missile defense systems and supporting military operations in the region. Despite some conservative criticism of aid for Gaza, Johnson included this provision in order to maintain critical Democratic support for the package. The humanitarian assistance for Gaza, where millions of Palestinians are facing challenges such as starvation and lack of clean water, amounts to over $9 billion.
The package also includes investments to counter China and ensure deterrence in the Indo-Pacific region, totaling about $8 billion. This includes funds for replenishing weapons and ammunition systems provided to Taiwan, with the overall amount of money dedicated to these investments being similar in both the House and Senate bills. Johnson’s goal is to pass these bills by the weekend, with a focus on providing support to Ukraine and Israel, as well as addressing humanitarian needs in Gaza while also strengthening deterrence in the Indo-Pacific region.
