House Republicans have put forth a plan to move military assistance for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan following Iran’s recent attempted strike on Israel. The plan involves separate votes on aid for each country, as well as a catch-all bill with other provisions such as divesting TikTok in the U.S. from its Chinese owner. House Speaker Mike Johnson emphasized the importance of reacting to global events and ensuring aid is passed quickly.
However, the plan faces challenges due to interparty politics between Republicans and Democrats in the House, as well as intraparty politics within the GOP conference. Democrats have insisted on an up-or-down vote on the $95.5 billion Senate bill that combines aid for all three countries, while Johnson aims to pass the aid through separate votes. The House would need to pass a rule for debate in order to bring the bills to the floor, which may be difficult given the slim majority and opposition within the GOP.
One major point of contention is the issue of aid to Ukraine, specifically refilling U.S. stocks of weapons to support the country in its fight against Russia’s invasion. Some House Republicans, including Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, have expressed opposition to funding Ukraine and foreign wars in general. Johnson believes allowing individual issues to be voted on with amendments offered on the floor is the fairest approach to resolve the deadlock that has existed since September.
Despite the potential challenges and opposition within the GOP, Johnson remains optimistic that the plan will move forward. He plans to discuss the process with his Democratic counterpart in the House, Hakeem Jeffries, and hopes for a fair and bipartisan approach. The outcome of the votes and how they will be sent to the Senate is still uncertain, but Johnson prefers sending the four bills individually to the Senate.
Regarding the possibility of an ouster attempt similar to what former Speaker Kevin McCarthy faced, Johnson appears unfazed. He emphasizes the importance of governing and doing the job at hand. The fate of the aid bills for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan hangs in the balance as House Republicans navigate the complex political landscape and work towards a resolution that satisfies all parties involved.
