The House of Representatives is holding a Saturday vote to consider Speaker Mike Johnson’s foreign aid plan, which includes funding for Ukraine, Israel, and the Indo-Pacific, as well as national security priorities. One of the bills includes the REPO Act, which would liquidate seized Russian assets and give the funding to Ukraine. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene has proposed an amendment to strip all funds from the Ukraine aid bill, but it is not expected to pass. Foreign aid has been a contentious issue within the GOP, with some lawmakers calling for Johnson’s ouster over his handling of the issue.
Johnson has faced pressure from both the Democrat-controlled Senate and White House, as well as conservative members of his own party, such as the House Freedom Caucus, regarding foreign aid. While the Senate proposed passing a $95 billion supplemental aid package as one item, some Republicans objected to foreign aid without spending offsets or border security measures. Johnson attempted to address these concerns by holding a vote on a border security and immigration bill, but it is unlikely to pass. Despite objections from Republican rebels, the foreign aid proposal passed a key procedural hurdle on Friday and is expected to receive a final vote on Saturday.
In a surprising turn of events, Democrats provided more than enough support to advance the foreign aid proposal, countering 55 Republican defections. House Freedom Caucus Chairman Bob Good accused Johnson of dividing the Republican Party, particularly over funding for Ukraine. Some GOP members expressed relief that the bills advanced on Friday and expressed confidence that they would ultimately pass. Rep. Jake Ellzey, a national security hawk, welcomed the show of bipartisanship and support from Democrats, emphasizing the importance of coming together for national security.
Despite the opposition from some Republicans, the foreign aid proposal received overwhelming support from Democrats, with more Democrats voting in favor of the rule than Republicans. House Democrats emphasized the importance of supporting proposals that are deemed to be good for the country, regardless of which party they come from. Johnson’s handling of the foreign aid plan has stirred up division within the Republican Party, with some calling for his ouster while others express relief that the bills are advancing. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have been caught in a contentious battle over the issue of foreign aid, with significant disagreements over funding priorities and offsets.
