House Advances Foreign Aid Bills Amid Republican Opposition
The House on Friday cleared a key procedural hurdle in passing foreign
aid to Israel, Ukraine, and Taiwan, despite significant Republican
defections, with Democrats playing a crucial role in assisting Speaker
Mike Johnson to avoid a stinging defeat.
Soon after, a third Republican announced support for a move to oust
Speaker Johnson.
316-94 votes by the chamber allowed the bills to advance, setting up
votes on final passage of $95 billion in foreign assistance on Saturday.
The aid had been held up in a prolonged political battle in Washington.
Democrats Rally to Progress Bills
Typically, procedural votes like Friday’s are passed solely by the House
majority; however, due to collective opposition from Republican
hard-liners, Democrats stepped in to help advance the legislation. More
Democrats than Republicans voted in favor.
Representative Jim McGovern, D-Massachusetts, exclaimed, “Democrats, once
again, will be the adults in the room,” during the pre-vote debate.
Speaking confidently after the vote, Johnson stated that the four
foreign aid bills are “the best possible product” achievable under the
circumstances. He added, “We look forward to final passage on the bill
tomorrow.”
Allocation of Aid
The individual bills allocate approximately $26 billion for Israel, $61
billion for Ukraine, and $8 billion for the Indo-Pacific. These measures
closely resemble legislation passed by a bipartisan Senate group in
February, which combined all aid into one comprehensive measure.
As part of the foreign aid package, a fourth bill encompasses
conservative priorities, including a TikTok ban bill, sanctions on Iran,
and legislation to seize Russian assets in support of Ukraine’s
financial needs.
In Defense of Aid Recipients
During the debate, Representative Tom Cole, R-Oklahoma, highlighted the
significance of aid for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, emphasizing their
role in safeguarding democracy globally. Cole stated, “Ukraine, Israel,
and Taiwan are on the frontlines of the struggle to preserve democracy
around the world. In the case of Ukraine and Israel, these two nations
are quite literally in harm’s way.”
Increased Pressure to Pass Aid
Pressure to pass the aid bills mounted as a result of unprecedented
attacks by Iran on Israel over the weekend.
Despite facing opposition from the right-flank of his party and
potential threats to his position, Johnson has remained determined to
move forward with the foreign aid measures. He considers them
indispensable.
Challenges to Speaker Johnson
After Friday’s vote, a third House Republican, Representative Paul Gosar
of Arizona, expressed support for the motion to vacate the Speaker’s
chair, initially introduced by Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene
last month. In a statement, Gosar voiced frustration with prioritizing
aid to Ukraine over providing resources to the southern border.
Representative Johnson, when questioned about concerns regarding his
potential removal, responded, “I don’t worry. I just do my job.”
Republican Dissent and Democratic Critiques
Despite Johnson’s confidence, GOP hard-liners voiced frustrations with
his approach to the aid issue during the debate. Representative Thomas
Massie, R-Kentucky, had previously called for Johnson’s resignation and
joined Greene’s motion to vacate.
Representative Chip Roy, R-Texas, criticized the allocation of $100
million for war funding without securing the border. Roy accused the
process of being predetermined, which raised concerns since it lacked
border security.
In response, Democrats criticized Republicans for instigating
dysfunction within the chamber. Representative McGovern urged his
colleagues to reconsider the detrimental impact of the extreme MAGA
ideology, urging them, “You don’t get an award when you’re doing your
damn job.”
Additionally, Representative Teresa Leger Fernandez, a Democratic member
of the House Rules Committee, condemned the delay in passing aid, stating, “Congress is finally going to vote… Why did it take us this long?”
White House Support
Ahead of the vote, the White House issued a statement of administration
policy which supported the aid bills, considering them “long overdue” and asserting their role in demonstrating strong American leadership during this crucial period.
