The pressure is mounting for House Speaker Mike Johnson to hold a vote on a foreign aid package that includes funding for Israel, Ukraine, and Taiwan. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and House Democratic Whip Katherine Clark have called for an immediate vote on the $95 billion package that was approved by the Senate in February but has yet to be voted on by the House. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell are also pushing for the bill to be passed in the House.
The recent large-scale attack by Iran on Israel has raised urgency in passing the aid package, with Johnson stating that the House will try to pass wartime aid for Israel this week in response to the attack. However, it remains uncertain whether the aid for Ukraine and Taiwan will be included in the package. Johnson has been under pressure from defense hawks in both parties to pass the foreign aid legislation to assist Ukraine in its war against Russia, but has explored other options, including a loan, to provide the funding.
The House Freedom Caucus has warned against using the situation in Israel as a way to pass aid for Ukraine, emphasizing the importance of aiding Israel but expressing reservations about additional aid to Ukraine without offsetting security measures for the U.S. borders. The White House has also opposed a standalone bill for Israel, emphasizing the importance of passing the bipartisan bill that the Senate approved to provide aid to both Israel and Ukraine quickly.
The situation in Israel and Ukraine has put pressure on Johnson’s leadership role as he navigates pushback from the right wing of his party who oppose sending aid to Ukraine. If Johnson attempts to pass a standalone bill for Israel, he may lose Democratic votes. The urgency of the situation has underscored the need for prompt action, as both Israel and Ukraine are actively fighting for their sovereignty and security.
As tensions continue to rise in the Middle East and Eastern Europe, the need for Congress to act on the foreign aid package is becoming increasingly apparent. With bipartisan support in the Senate, the bill has the potential to provide critical assistance to Israel, Ukraine, and Taiwan in their ongoing conflicts. The decisions made by Johnson and the House in the coming days will have significant implications for U.S. foreign policy and national security efforts in the region.
