Rep. Mike Lawler, a moderate Republican from New York, is optimistic that a vote on funding for Ukraine’s war effort could happen when the House returns from recess early next month. Lawler, a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, believes it is crucial for the US to support its allies, especially Ukraine. He, along with Democratic Rep. Jared Golden and Republican Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, is pushing for a vote through a discharge petition, but hopes that Speaker Mike Johnson will put the bill on the floor for a vote without needing the petition.
House Intelligence Committee Chair Mike Turner has stated that Johnson has made it clear that passing supplemental aid to Ukraine will be a top priority when Congress returns. The aid is crucial to impact morale and ability to fight for the Ukrainians battling against Russia. This puts Johnson in a difficult position as he may face a vote for his removal, especially with far-right Republicans opposing new aid to Ukraine. Lawler criticized the efforts of Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene to oust Johnson, calling it counterproductive to the House Republican majority.
The issue of combining foreign aid for Ukraine with border provisions has been a point of contention among House Republicans and Senate Republicans, resulting in a major bipartisan deal being blocked last month. The Senate passed a standalone $95.3 billion foreign aid bill with assistance for Ukraine and Israel, but Johnson had initially stated he would not bring it up for a vote. However, he has left the door open for House Republicans to craft a package with foreign aid and border restrictions after successfully funding the government earlier in the month.
Lawler has suggested combining Ukraine aid with new border restrictions, a proposal that falls outside the demands of Democrats. The ongoing debate about combining these provisions has created challenges in reaching a bipartisan agreement on the issue. Lawler is hopeful that Johnson will bring the bill to the floor for a vote to ensure that allies receive the aid and support they need. He has also engaged in discussions with Johnson regarding the discharge petition effort to push for a vote on the bill.
Lawler remains confident that Johnson will bring the bill to the floor for a vote despite facing potential backlash from far-right Republicans who oppose aid to Ukraine. Lawler criticized Greene’s efforts to remove Johnson, stating that it would undermine the House Republican majority. Democrats have indicated they may support Johnson if he moves a Ukraine aid bill they can support, but disagreements persist over the inclusion of border restrictions in the bill. The dynamics within the House GOP present challenges for Johnson in navigating support for the Ukraine aid bill while maintaining his position as speaker.
In conclusion, the debate over providing aid to Ukraine highlights the divisions within the House GOP and the challenges faced by Speaker Mike Johnson in navigating these issues. Lawler and other moderate Republicans are pushing for a vote on the bill to support Ukraine, while facing opposition from far-right members within their party. Finding a bipartisan agreement on foreign aid for Ukraine while balancing border restrictions remains a complex issue that will need to be addressed upon Congress’s return from recess in order to support US allies and uphold democratic values globally.
