In a rare Saturday session, the House of Representatives is preparing to approve $95 billion in foreign aid for Ukraine, Israel, and other U.S. allies. This comes after months of contentious debate over American support for repelling Russia’s invasion into Ukraine. Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson, with support from Democrats, has set up votes on three aid bills and a fourth containing various foreign policy proposals. The Senate is expected to pass the package soon, with President Joe Biden promising to sign it immediately. This funding request was first made in October as Ukraine’s military supplies began to run low, and passage through the House will clear the biggest hurdle for its approval.
The delay in approving aid has left many questioning America’s commitment to its allies, with world leaders like Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida visiting Congress to urge approval. The delay has also affected one of Biden’s top foreign policy priorities – stopping Russian President Vladimir Putin’s advance in Europe. After quiet talks with Johnson, the president endorsed the aid plan, paving the way for Democrats to support it. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries highlighted the importance of supporting democratic allies in Israel, Ukraine, and the Indo-Pacific, as well as providing humanitarian assistance to civilians in conflict zones like Gaza, Haiti, and Sudan.
The aid package is expected to create unusual alliances in the House, with progressive Democrats likely to oppose the bill aiding Israel due to the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Former President Donald Trump’s influence has loomed over the debate, with his opposition to further aid for Ukraine impacting previous Senate proposals. The House Freedom Caucus has criticized the legislation as an “America Last” foreign wars package and urged lawmakers to oppose it for lacking border security measures. Johnson’s leadership has faced increasing scrutiny, with calls for his removal from the speaker’s office, and a motion to vacate from several Republican lawmakers.
Former White House press secretary Ari Fleischer praised the bipartisan support for the aid package, highlighting its focus on supporting Israel, countering Putin, and addressing challenges posed by China. The package includes several Republican priorities that Democrats have endorsed or accepted, including seizing frozen Russian central bank assets, imposing sanctions on various countries and criminal organizations, and requiring the sale of TikTok’s U.S. stake. The urgency to pass the bills reflects the realities on the ground in Ukraine, where Russian forces are using advanced weaponry against Ukrainian troops facing shortages of troops and ammunition. Despite the delay in approving aid, experts believe that the assistance coming now can still prevent a disaster on the battlefield.
