The House was moving towards passing a $95 billion foreign aid package for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, despite opposition from hard-liners within the speaker’s own party, Speaker Mike Johnson took a risk to advance the legislation. The aid for Ukriane, Israel, and Taiwan was expected to be voted on separately, as well as another bill that included measures related to TikTok ban and new sanctions on Iran. Mr. Johnson structured the bills to capture different coalitions of support without allowing opposition to any one element to derail the entire deal. The aid bills are expected to pass overwhelmingly, and the Senate is anticipated to quickly take up the legislation and send it to President Biden for approval.
The legislation includes $60 billion for Ukraine, $26 billion for Israel, humanitarian aid for civilians in conflict zones, including Gaza, and $8 billion for the Indo-Pacific region. It also directs the president to seek repayment from the Ukrainian government of $10 billion in economic assistance, with the option to forgive those loans starting in 2026. The scene on the House floor was expected to reflect bipartisan support for helping Ukraine repel Russian forces, as well as the political risk Mr. Johnson took to push the legislation through despite opposition within his party.
For months, it was unclear if Congress would approve additional funding for Ukraine as Russia gained momentum in the war. Republicans initially opposed aid for Ukraine unless stringent anti-immigration measures were included. The Senate passed its $95 billion emergency aid legislation, prompting Mr. Johnson to take action to ensure aid was sent to Ukraine, despite threats of being ousted by his party’s right-wing. Mr. Johnson’s decision was motivated by a desire to avoid sending American troops to Ukraine and his belief that it was the right thing to do.
The decision to advance aid to Ukraine angered ultraconservative Republicans who accused Mr. Johnson of reneging on his promise not to advance foreign aid without policy concessions on the border. Republican opposition to the measure forced Mr. Johnson to rely on Democrats to bring the package to the floor, passing a critical test vote on Friday. The legislation also included provisions to sell off frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine’s war efforts and impose sanctions on Iranian and Russian officials, as well as limit the export of U.S. technology used in Iranian drones.
The bill debated on Saturday aimed to help sell off frozen Russian assets and impose sanctions on Iranian and Russian officials. American allies, including France and Germany, had reservations about the viability of selling off Russian assets under international law and instead advocated for the proceeds or interest from these assets to be given directly to Ukraine. Lawmakers were also expected to vote on amendments, including those proposed by Republicans to zero out or limit funding for Ukraine, which were projected to fail. The legislation aimed to support allies and demonstrate U.S. leadership on the world stage.
